Table 2.
Distribution of students’ answers for the ADKS (N = 275)
| Question (answer) | Correct answer | % |
|---|---|---|
| Life impact | ||
| 1-People with AD are particularly prone to depression (T) | 237 | 86.2 |
| 2-Most people with AD live in nursing homes (F) | 139 | 50.5 |
| 3-It is safe for people with AD to drive, as long as they have a companion in the car at all times (F) | 180 | 65.5 |
| Risk factors | ||
| 4-It has been scientifically proven that mental exercise can prevent a person from getting AD (F) | 31 | 11.3 |
| 5-People in their 30s can have AD (T) | 160 | 58.2 |
| 6-Having high cholesterol may increase a person’s risk of developing AD (T) | 127 | 46.2 |
| 7-Prescription drugs that prevent AD are available (F) | 196 | 71.3 |
| 8-Having high blood pressure may increase a person’s risk of developing AD (T) | 148 | 53.8 |
| 9-Genes can only partially account for the development of AD (T) | 227 | 82.5 |
| Symptoms | ||
| 10-Tremor or shaking of the hands or arms is a common symptom in people with AD (F) | 166 | 60.4 |
| 11-Trouble handling money or paying bills is a common early symptom of AD (T) | 85 | 30.9 |
| 12-One symptom that can occur with AD believes that other people are stealing one ’s things (T) | 156 | 56.7 |
| 13-Most people with AD remember recent events better than things that happened in the past. (F) | 172 | 62.5 |
| Treatment and management | ||
| 14-People whose AD is not yet severe can benefit from psychotherapy for depression and anxiety. (T) | 205 | 74.5 |
| 15-Poor nutrition can make the symptoms of AD worse. (T) | 224 | 81.5 |
| 16When a person has AD, using reminder notes is a crutch that can contribute to decline. (F) | 199 | 72.4 |
| 17-AD cannot be cured. (T) | 158 | 57.5 |
| Assessment and diagnosis | ||
| 18-When a person with AD becomes agitated, a medical examination might reveal other health problems that caused the agitation. (T) | 211 | 76.7 |
| 19-If trouble with memory and confused thinking appears suddenly, it is likely due to AD. (F) | 199 | 72.4 |
| 20-Symptoms of severe depression can be mistaken for symptoms of AD. (T) | 139 | 50.5 |
| 21-AD is one type of dementia. (T) | 232 | 84.4 |
| Caregiving | ||
| 22-People with AD do best with simple, instructions given one step at a time. (T) | 176 | 64.0 |
| 23-When people with AD begin to have difficulty taking care of them, caregivers should take over right away.(F) | 16 | 5.8 |
| 24-If a person with AD becomes alert and agitated at night, a good strategy is to try to make sure that the person gets plenty of physical activity during the day. (T) | 176 | 64.0 |
| 25-When people with AD repeat the same question or story several times, it is helpful to remind them that they are repeating themselves. (F) | 123 | 44.7 |
| 26-Once people have AD, they are no longer capable of making informed decisions about their own care. (F) | 149 | 54.2 |
| Course of the disease | ||
| 27-After symptoms of AD appear, the average life expectancy is 6 to 12 years. (T) | 180 | 65.5 |
| 28-In rare cases, people have recovered from AD. (F) | 142 | 51.6 |
| 29-A person with AD becomes increasingly likely to fall down as the disease gets worse. (T) | 229 | 83.3 |
| 30-Eventually, a person with AD will need 24-hour supervision. (T) | 257 | 93.5 |
AD Alzheimer’s disease, T True, F False