Table 2.
Average BESIC scores for individual items by CHW and digitally recruited participants (Scale: 1 = Not at all, 5 = Extremely or a great deal)
| CHW Recruited (n = 308) |
Digitally Recruited (n = 526) |
p value | |
|---|---|---|---|
| How normal is it to forget things as part of growing older? | 3.14 ± 0.99 | 3.13 ± 0.90 | 0.85 |
| How normal is Alzheimer’s disease as a part of growing older? | 2.96 ± 1.09 | 2.12 ± 1.04 | < 0.001 |
| How likely is it that there are things you can do to reduce your risk of getting Alzheimer’s disease? | 3.07 ± 1.11 | 3.31 ± 1.05 | 0.002 |
| How likely is it that Alzheimer’s disease can be cured? | 2.24 ± 1.17 | 2.10 ± 1.14 | 0.09 |
| How likely are people with Alzheimer’s disease to be depressed? | 3.41 ± 1.08 | 3.57 ± 0.99 | 0.03 |
| How likely is it that people with Alzheimer’s disease will always be able to recognize their friends and family members? | 2.28 ± 1.07 | 1.96 ± 0.93 | < 0.001 |
| Domain Knowledge – Likelihood | |||
| How likely is someone to have Alzheimer’s disease if… | |||
| …they stop taking part in social activities? | 3.15 ± 1.24 | 3.01 ± 1.11 | 0.08 |
| …they wear a heavy coat when it is hot outside? | 2.63 ± 1.32 | 2.47 ± 1.25 | 0.08 |
| …they forget names of familiar objects? | 3.65 ± 1.09 | 3.64 ± 0.99 | 0.91 |
| …they often forget appointments? | 3.71 ± 1.06 | 3.44 ± 1.03 | 0.0003 |
| …they have difficulty remembering the rules of a game they have played many times before? | 3.59 ± 1.17 | 3.57 ± 1.03 | 0.85 |
| …they have trouble following directions? | 3.48 ± 1.16 | 3.50 ± 1.04 | 0.75 |
| …they ask someone the same question over and over again? | 3.79 ± 1.08 | 3.98 ± 0.94 | 0.006 |
| …they have trouble counting money? | 3.46 ± 1.17 | 3.54 ± 1.09 | 0.28 |
| …they lose their keys from time to time? | 3.56 ± 1.26 | 2.79 ± 1.26 | < 0.001 |
| Domain Knowledge—Risk | |||
| How much is someone’s risk of getting Alzheimer’s disease increased if… | |||
| …a parent had it? | 3.20 ± 1.38 | 3.63 ± 1.01 | < 0.001 |
| …they have a serious hit to their head? | 2.64 ± 1.29 | 2.63 ± 1.16 | 0.95 |
| …they have high blood sugar? | 2.43 ± 1.25 | 2.58 ± 1.12 | 0.09 |
| …they have high blood pressure? | 2.46 ± 1.24 | 2.56 ± 1.09 | 0.21 |
| …they have had a stroke? | 2.91 ± 1.36 | 2.86 ± 1.20 | 0.63 |
| …they have poor nutrition? | 2.61 ± 1.27 | 2.87 ± 1.16 | 0.002 |
| …they do not get enough sleep? | 2.97 ± 1.24 | 3.08 ± 1.11 | 0.21 |
| …they do not take care of themselves? | 3.03 ± 1.29 | 3.15 ± 1.16 | 0.14 |
| …they experienced a difficult life or traumatic event? | 2.86 ± 1.30 | 2.80 ± 1.21 | 0.58 |
| Domain Knowledge—Prevention | |||
| To prevent or slow Alzheimer’s disease, how important is it to… | |||
| …get help with dementia symptoms early? | 3.99 ± 1.15 | 4.41 ± 0.81 | < 0.001 |
| …stay mentally active? | 4.17 ± 0.97 | 4.52 ± 0.70 | < 0.001 |
| …be with others to keep the memory sharp? | 3.84 ± 1.09 | 4.08 ± 0.92 | 0.001 |
| …have your memory tested regularly if you are over 65? | 3.93 ± 1.08 | 4.10 ± 0.94 | 0.02 |
| …stay physically active? | 4.06 ± 0.98 | 4.26 ± 0.80 | 0.001 |
| …keep written lists as reminders?* | 3.59 ± 1.20 | 3.34 ± 1.16 | 0.004 |
| …try very hard to remember things?* | 3.49 ± 1.16 | 3.07 ± 1.23 | < 0.001 |
| …take care of high blood pressure? | 3.62 ± 1.20 | 3.75 ± 1.12 | 0.11 |
*
These reflect misconceptions about memory problems, and compensatory mechanisms