Conocimiento sobre demencia frontotemporal en estudiantes de enfermería y medicina. Azogues marzo-agosto 2023

Abstract

Knowledge about frontotemporal dementia was evaluated in undergraduate nursing and medical students of the Catholic University of Cuenca, Azogues campus. Objective: To identify the knowledge about frontotemporal dementia in nursing and medical university students. Methodology: A cross-sectional design was applied, involving 1,666 nursing and medical students from the Azogues campus. A sample of 310 students was selected to collect data and evaluate their knowledge about frontotemporal dementia using a knowledge scale on the subject of study. Demographic data were collected, and ability was assessed. Statistical data analysis was conducted using Microsoft Excel 2010® and SPSS® v.26. The ethical guidelines of the WHO-CIOMS, the Declaration of Helsinki, and the determinations of the Human Research Ethics Committee of the Catholic University of Cuenca were followed. Results: Most participants consist of females at 58%, with 66% exhibiting low levels of knowledge, irrespective of their academic year. The correlations between the items showed positive, moderate, and vigorous associations with the article stating that Frontotemporal Dementia is a variant of Alzheimer's Disease, with 81% of the total sample having misconceptions. Conclusions: Students in nursing and medical programs exhibit misconceptions about frontotemporal dementia, which is responsible for a significant percentage of degenerative dementia. Therefore, their level of knowledge is rated as low.