A comparative study of dementia knowledge, attitudes and care approach among Chinese nursing and medical students
Abstract BackgroundDementia care requires inter-disciplinary collaboration starting from formal health professional education. Yet, little is known about how undergraduate medical and nursing students perceive dementia care in China. The aim of this study was to investigate undergraduate medical and nursing students’ knowledge, attitudes and care approach of dementia in China.MethodsA cross-sectional survey was conducted. Students enrolled in a 5-year Bachelor of Medicine Program and a 4-year Bachelor of Nursing Program from four universities with campuses across Eastern, Western, Southern and Northern China were recruited into the study. Three validated instruments, Alzheimer’s Disease Knowledge Scale, the Dementia Care Attitude Scale and Approach to Advanced Dementia Care Questionnaire, were used to measure students’ dementia knowledge, attitudes and perceived care approach. Data were collected using a self-administered survey.ResultsThe number of medical and nursing students completing the survey was 526 and 467 respectively. Overall dementia knowledge was poor (19.49±2.82), but attitudes were generally positive (29.92±3.35). Medical students demonstrated higher dementia knowledge scores and showed less positive attitude scores than nursing students (p<0.05). We also observed that students would not apply a person-centered care approach. Findings also revealed statistically significant differences in care approach scores between medical and nursing students.ConclusionsStudy results highlight the urgent need to implement an inter-disciplinary approach to increasing dementia education among Chinese medical and nursing students, and ensuring that students have adequate knowledge, attitudes and experience in the care of people with dementia.