Knowledge and attitudes towards Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias among Nigerian medical and nursing students: a comparative study
Abstract Introduction Dementia is a growing public health challenge globally, with low- and middle-income countries, including Nigeria, disproportionately affected. Healthcare professionals play a critical role in dementia care. This study compared the knowledge and attitudes of medical and nursing...
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2025-02-01
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12909-025-06775-x |
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| author | Tobi Olajide Favour Ajao Inioluwa Joshua Abigail Oyedokun Ayosubomi Odubiyi Oluwadabira Adewara Feziechi Anele Ayomide Fatola Samuel Ayeni Nneka Amakom Oluwanifemi Osakuade Oluwabunmi Adeyeye Chidera Ezeh Gbenga Shittu Rashidat Mufutau Serena Atoyebi Michael Apata Sandra Obatowon Aminat Abdul Jesufemi Adeyeye Akin Ojagbemi |
| author_facet | Tobi Olajide Favour Ajao Inioluwa Joshua Abigail Oyedokun Ayosubomi Odubiyi Oluwadabira Adewara Feziechi Anele Ayomide Fatola Samuel Ayeni Nneka Amakom Oluwanifemi Osakuade Oluwabunmi Adeyeye Chidera Ezeh Gbenga Shittu Rashidat Mufutau Serena Atoyebi Michael Apata Sandra Obatowon Aminat Abdul Jesufemi Adeyeye Akin Ojagbemi |
| author_sort | Tobi Olajide |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Introduction Dementia is a growing public health challenge globally, with low- and middle-income countries, including Nigeria, disproportionately affected. Healthcare professionals play a critical role in dementia care. This study compared the knowledge and attitudes of medical and nursing students at a Nigerian university toward Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias (ADRD). Methods This cross-sectional study was conducted at the College of Medicine University of Ibadan, Nigeria. A total of 143 penultimate and final-year medical and nursing students were selected by stratified random sampling. Data were collected using the Alzheimer’s Disease Knowledge Scale (ADKS) and Dementia Care Attitude Scale (DCAS). Multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) was used to compare mean scores between these students. Multivariate regression models were developed to identify factors significantly associated with ADKS and DCAS scores. Statistical significance was determined using a two-tailed p-value of < 0.05. Results The mean age of participants was 22.61 years (SD ± 2.56). Medical students demonstrated significantly higher knowledge scores (19.82, SD ± 3.17) compared to nursing students (17.39, SD ± 2.65; p < 0.001) on a scale of 0 to 30. Attitudes measured using the Dementia Care Attitude Scale (DCAS) showed no significant difference between groups, with medical students scoring slightly higher. Multiple regression analysis identified department as a significant predictor of knowledge (p < 0.001) and attitudes (p = 0.010). Conclusion The study highlights gaps in dementia education among medical and nursing students in Ibadan. Targeted educational interventions, including enhanced curriculum content and experiential learning opportunities, are urgently needed to improve dementia care preparedness in the healthcare workforce. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-0451bc22f8a84399bb7e3e20b983010f |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1472-6920 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-02-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Medical Education |
| spelling | doaj-art-0451bc22f8a84399bb7e3e20b983010f2025-02-09T12:42:47ZengBMCBMC Medical Education1472-69202025-02-0125111010.1186/s12909-025-06775-xKnowledge and attitudes towards Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias among Nigerian medical and nursing students: a comparative studyTobi Olajide0Favour Ajao1Inioluwa Joshua2Abigail Oyedokun3Ayosubomi Odubiyi4Oluwadabira Adewara5Feziechi Anele6Ayomide Fatola7Samuel Ayeni8Nneka Amakom9Oluwanifemi Osakuade10Oluwabunmi Adeyeye11Chidera Ezeh12Gbenga Shittu13Rashidat Mufutau14Serena Atoyebi15Michael Apata16Sandra Obatowon17Aminat Abdul18Jesufemi Adeyeye19Akin Ojagbemi20College Research and Innovation HubDepartment of Medicine, College of Medicine, University of IbadanCollege Research and Innovation HubCollege Research and Innovation HubCollege Research and Innovation HubCollege Research and Innovation HubCollege Research and Innovation HubCollege Research and Innovation HubCollege Research and Innovation HubCollege Research and Innovation HubDepartment of Medicine, College of Medicine, University of IbadanDepartment of Medicine, College of Medicine, University of IbadanDepartment of Medicine, College of Medicine, University of IbadanDepartment of Medicine, College of Medicine, University of IbadanNursing, University College HospitalNursing, University College HospitalNursing, University College HospitalNursing, University College HospitalNursing, University College HospitalDepartment of Medicine, College of Medicine, University of IbadanOld Age Psychiatry, University College HospitalAbstract Introduction Dementia is a growing public health challenge globally, with low- and middle-income countries, including Nigeria, disproportionately affected. Healthcare professionals play a critical role in dementia care. This study compared the knowledge and attitudes of medical and nursing students at a Nigerian university toward Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias (ADRD). Methods This cross-sectional study was conducted at the College of Medicine University of Ibadan, Nigeria. A total of 143 penultimate and final-year medical and nursing students were selected by stratified random sampling. Data were collected using the Alzheimer’s Disease Knowledge Scale (ADKS) and Dementia Care Attitude Scale (DCAS). Multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) was used to compare mean scores between these students. Multivariate regression models were developed to identify factors significantly associated with ADKS and DCAS scores. Statistical significance was determined using a two-tailed p-value of < 0.05. Results The mean age of participants was 22.61 years (SD ± 2.56). Medical students demonstrated significantly higher knowledge scores (19.82, SD ± 3.17) compared to nursing students (17.39, SD ± 2.65; p < 0.001) on a scale of 0 to 30. Attitudes measured using the Dementia Care Attitude Scale (DCAS) showed no significant difference between groups, with medical students scoring slightly higher. Multiple regression analysis identified department as a significant predictor of knowledge (p < 0.001) and attitudes (p = 0.010). Conclusion The study highlights gaps in dementia education among medical and nursing students in Ibadan. Targeted educational interventions, including enhanced curriculum content and experiential learning opportunities, are urgently needed to improve dementia care preparedness in the healthcare workforce.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12909-025-06775-xDementiaKnowledgeAttitudeAlzheimer’s diseaseStudentsNigeria |
| spellingShingle | Tobi Olajide Favour Ajao Inioluwa Joshua Abigail Oyedokun Ayosubomi Odubiyi Oluwadabira Adewara Feziechi Anele Ayomide Fatola Samuel Ayeni Nneka Amakom Oluwanifemi Osakuade Oluwabunmi Adeyeye Chidera Ezeh Gbenga Shittu Rashidat Mufutau Serena Atoyebi Michael Apata Sandra Obatowon Aminat Abdul Jesufemi Adeyeye Akin Ojagbemi Knowledge and attitudes towards Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias among Nigerian medical and nursing students: a comparative study BMC Medical Education Dementia Knowledge Attitude Alzheimer’s disease Students Nigeria |
| title | Knowledge and attitudes towards Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias among Nigerian medical and nursing students: a comparative study |
| title_full | Knowledge and attitudes towards Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias among Nigerian medical and nursing students: a comparative study |
| title_fullStr | Knowledge and attitudes towards Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias among Nigerian medical and nursing students: a comparative study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Knowledge and attitudes towards Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias among Nigerian medical and nursing students: a comparative study |
| title_short | Knowledge and attitudes towards Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias among Nigerian medical and nursing students: a comparative study |
| title_sort | knowledge and attitudes towards alzheimer s disease and related dementias among nigerian medical and nursing students a comparative study |
| topic | Dementia Knowledge Attitude Alzheimer’s disease Students Nigeria |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12909-025-06775-x |
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