Dementia-related contact experience, attitudes, and the level of knowledge in medical vocational college students

BACKGROUND: Dementia is a severe neurological and psychological disease that occurs in older adults worldwide. The knowledge and attitude of medical-vocational college students play an important role in supporting primary healthcare systems. AIM: To investigate the level of knowledge, contact experience, and attitudes toward dementia among medical-vocational college students in China. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey was conducted, and 3-year medical and medical-related students from eight vocational colleges in Anhui province were recruited. The contact experience, attitudes, and knowledge level of students toward dementia were assessed using a questionnaire designed according to the Chinese version of the Alzheimer’s Disease Knowledge Scale (ADKS). RESULTS: A total of 2444 medical and medical-related students completed the survey, of whom 86.7% of respondents had interests and concerns regarding Alzheimer’s disease (AD), and 29.2% of respondents had experiences of contact with dementia patients. Overall attitudes toward dementia were negative. Only 35.4% of students were interested in participating in the caregiving of dementia patients. The mean score of students’ knowledge about AD as assessed by the ADKS was 21.16 (standard deviation, 3.43) out of 30. CONCLUSION: Dementia-related knowledge of medical-vocational college students was at a medium level, and their overall attitudes toward dementia were negative.