title: Explanations of AD in ethnic minority participants undergoing cognitive screening.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to describe and compare explanations of Alzheimer's disease (AD) of African American, Afro-Caribbean, and European American older adults undergoing cognitive screening. Participants were asked a series of open-ended questions regarding what they knew about AD and if they were experiencing memory problems. Responses were coded and quantized for analysis. Forty percent reported experiencing memory problems. Afro-Caribbeans made significantly more incorrect statements about AD and were less likely to identify memory loss as a symptom. Half the participants said they would seek their physician's advice if the screening was positive; none mentioned a memory disorder center. Misconceptions about AD included the effect of aluminum, brain collapse, relaxed brain, shaking, tremors, and physical illness. More Afro-Caribbeans, all of whom were first generation, had misconceptions about AD. Campaigns to educate the public about AD need to provide culturally sensitive and appropriate information to ethnic minority populations.
authors.affiliation: Florida Atlantic University, Christine E. Lynn College of Nursing, Boca Raton, FL, USA. rtappen@fau.edu
authors.forename: Ruth M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Tappen
authors.forename: Sandra E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Gibson
authors.forename: Christine L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Williams
mesh_terms: D001741:Black or African American / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D017691:Caribbean Region / Q000208:ethnology; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007406:Interview, Psychological; D008297:Male; D008569:Memory Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology; D008875:Middle Aged; D008913:Minority Groups / Q000523:psychology*; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D044465:White People / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology