Patel Ishani, Patel Jalpan, Jindal Siddharth Vrajesh, Desai Devangi, Desai Soaham
Physician Doctor, Shree Krishna Hospital, Pramukhswami Medical College, Karamsad, Anand, Gujarat, India.
Medicine Department, Shree Krishna Hospital, Pramukhswami Medical College, Karamsad, Anand, Gujarat, India.
Ann Indian Acad Neurol. 2021 Sep-Oct;24(5):754-758. doi: 10.4103/aian.AIAN_874_20. Epub 2021 Aug 4.
Current undergraduate medical academic curriculum does not emphasize on evaluation and management of dementia. The knowledge and attitude of medical students towards patients with dementia in India has not been ascertained previously.
We aimed to assess the knowledge and attitude of final year medical students about dementia and Alzheimer's disease. We also aimed to assess if a dedicated sensitization cum teaching session by a group of interns doctors guided by a neurologist could help improve students' knowledge and awareness towards dementia or not.
82 consenting final year medical students answered questionnaires of Alzheimer Disease Knowledge Scale (ADKS) and Dementia Attitude Scale (DAS) at a baseline level. A sensitization cum teaching session by intern doctors was conducted to enhance students' knowledge about dementia. A post sensitization reassessment of students was done to assess impact of the session.
The ADKS score was 57% at baseline which was increased to 71% post sensitization program. The mean DAS score was 3.2 at baseline which was reported to be 3.4 after sensitization program. Students reported significant improvement in their knowledge level but did not show the same improvement in their attitude and comfort level in caring for dementia after the sensitization program. Students were still not comfortable dealing with patients with dementia.
Medical students lack significant knowledge and training about dementia. Patient contact and practical training for basic assessment and care of dementia needs to be incorporated in the current academic curriculum. Dedicated sensitization sessions on dementia care can help improve the gap. Practical exposure to management of patients with dementia would be required to enhance the comfort level and attitude of students towards dementia.
当前本科医学学术课程并未着重于痴呆症的评估与管理。此前尚未确定印度医学生对痴呆症患者的知识和态度。
我们旨在评估医学专业最后一年学生对痴呆症和阿尔茨海默病的知识与态度。我们还旨在评估由一组在神经科医生指导下的实习医生开展的专门的认知强化兼教学课程是否有助于提高学生对痴呆症的知识和认知。
82名同意参与的医学专业最后一年学生在基线水平回答了阿尔茨海默病知识量表（ADKS）和痴呆症态度量表（DAS）的问卷。由实习医生开展了认知强化兼教学课程，以增强学生对痴呆症的知识。对学生进行了认知强化后的重新评估，以评估该课程的影响。
基线时ADKS分数为57%，在认知强化课程后增至71%。基线时DAS平均分数为3.2，认知强化课程后报告为3.4。学生报告其知识水平有显著提高，但在认知强化课程后，他们在照顾痴呆症患者时的态度和舒适度并未有同样程度的改善。学生在应对痴呆症患者时仍感到不自在。
医学生缺乏关于痴呆症的重要知识和培训。当前学术课程需要纳入与患者接触以及针对痴呆症基本评估和护理的实践培训。专门的痴呆症护理认知强化课程有助于缩小差距。需要让学生实际接触痴呆症患者的管理，以提高他们对痴呆症的舒适度和态度。
