O2–12–03: Teaching children about dementia: Pilot findings from the hip hop old S.C.H.O.O.L. (Seniors Can Have Optimal aging and Ongoing Longevity) program
Year: 2013
Type: article
Study design: Clinical Trial
Abstract: Dementia health literacy is low among the general public and likely poses a significant barrier to Alzheimer's disease (AD) symptom recognition and treatment, particularly among minority populations already facing higher burden of illness. We evaluated the pilot phase of a novel AD health literacy education program “Old S.C.H.O.O.L. Hip Hop” (Seniors Can Have Optimal aging and Ongoing Longevity, OSHH) which aimed to enable children to be dementia health educational conduits into the home (“child-mediated health communication”). OSHH aims to demystify dementia in a high-risk community using our stroke-validated model of engaging, dynamic, age- and culturally-appropriate curriculum delivered to elementary school-aged children (4th and 5th grade, ages 9–11 years). For this study we assessed AD knowledge among the children at baseline, immediately following the 3 day program (1 hour delivered over 3 consecutive days), and 3 months later without interceding lessons. To aid in recalling key AD symptoms, we developed the “F.L.O.W.” mnemonic (Forget, Lose, Overlook, Write/Wander); students were additionally taught an action plan when symptoms were recognized. 75 students completed baseline assessments, and 69 completed delayed post-testing. “FLOW” mnemonic symptoms were not strongly associated with AD at baseline (ranging from 16–71%) but were highly learned by students after 3 days (89–98%) and retained well after 3 months (80–95%, p≤0.01 for all comparisons vs. baseline). AD localization, including its effect on memory and the hippocampus, was also highly learned and retained (p<0.001). Eighteen (24%) of students reported having a close friend or family member with AD.
Source: Alzheimer s & Dementia
Authors: James Noble, Monique Hedmann, Olajide Williams
Institution: Columbia University Irving Medical Center
Language: English
Subfield: Psychiatry and Mental health
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: bronze
OpenAlex ID: W2106714885