Population

The population referred to the target population, which represents the entire group

or all the elements individuals or objectives that meet certain criteria for inclusion in the

study.

In the present study, the population consists of adults between age group of 21 –

50 years in Jayachamarajendra Nagar, Bangalore.

Sample

The sample is a portion of the population that has been selected to represent the

study. In the present study, the sample consists of 100 adults, who are in the age group of

between 21 – 50 years from Jayachamarajendra Nagar, Bangalore who fulfill the

inclusion and exclusion criteria for the study. The reason for selecting adults as samples

for the study is that adults are easily available and are the best source for giving

information regarding Alzheimer’s disease.

Sampling Technique

Sampling Technique is the process of selecting a group of people or order

elements to conduct a study. In this study, convenient sampling technique was adopted.

Convenient sampling is a type of non-probability sampling. Non probability sample are

selected on the basis of judgment of the researcher to achieve particular objectives of the

research.

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 Criteria for Sample Selection

The sampling frame structured by the researcher included the following

criteria.

Inclusion Criteria

1. Adults who are willing to participate

2. Adults who are present at time of study

3. Adults who can read and understand English and Kannada.

Exclusion Criteria

1. Adults who are not willing to participate

2. Adults who cannot read and understand English and Kannada.

Selection and development of tool

Based on the research problem and objectives of the study, the following steps were

undertaken to select and develop the data collection tool.

a. Selection of the tool

A structured interview schedule was selected on the basis of the objectives of the

study, as it was considered to be the most appropriate instrument to elicit responses from

the participants selected.

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 b. Development of Tool

The instrument selected in a research should be the vehicle that would obtain data

for drawing conclusions, which are presented to the study.

The investigator developed a structured interview schedule to assess the

knowledge of adults regarding Alzheimer’s disease in a selected community, Bangalore.

The following steps were carried out for preparing the tool.

• Review of related literature

• Experts opinion

• Investigator’s personal experience.

Preparation of the Blue Print

A blue print was prepared prior to structure interview schedule based on which

the items were developed. It depicted the distribution of items according to the content

areas (Annexure - M).

Structured interview schedule includes three domains with relevant questions.

• Knowledge 64 percent

• Comprehension 23 percent

• Application 13 percent

c. Description of the tool

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 It comprises two sections.

Section A : Socio – Demographic Data

This section of the tool consists of 13 items for obtaining information about the

selected back ground factors such as age, gender, educational status, marital status,

occupational status, religion, monthly income, type of family, family size, source of

information regarding Alzheimer’s disease, family history of mental illness and family

members suffering from Alzheimer’s disease.

Section B : Structured Interview Schedule

It consists of 30 questions which includes meaning, definition, incidence,

prevalence, etiology, signs and symptoms, investigations, management and rehabilitation.

Each question has three options, in which one is the correct answer. Each correct answer

was given a score of one and wrong answer zero.

Content validity

Validity refers to the degree to which an instrument measure what it is supposed

to measure. For the content validity a criteria checklist was prepared. Each criteria

consists of 1 – 3 response columns for rating and they are,

1. Relevant

2. Relevant to certain extent

3. Not Relevant /needs modification

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 The prepared instrument along with the objects operational definition, blue print,

scoring key and a criteria checklist for validation were submitted to 11 experts which

include 9 nurses educators, 1 psychiatrist, 1 statistician to establish content validity.

Suggestion were incorporated in the tool and recommendation were considered

accordingly.

Translation of the tool

Initially the tool was prepared in English and then the refined tool was translated

into Kannada. The Kannada tool was checked by the expert for appropriateness.

Pilot Study

Pilot study is a small version or trail run of the major study. To assess the

feasibility in conducting main study and to obtain information for improving the project

pilot study was undertaken.

After obtaining a formal permission from the medical officer of the urban family

welfare center, Mahalakshmi Layout, Bangalore. The pilot study was conducted at

Athmeya Gelayarabalaga colony, Bangalore from 6th August 2007 to 13th August 2007.

The investigator visited the urban community and selected ten adults by using

convenient sampling technique and data was collected from the adults by using structured

interview schedule. The social demographic data consisting of 13 items and 30 questions

to assess the knowledge regarding Alzheimer’s disease was interviewed from each adults.

The investigator took average time of about 30 to 40 minutes for each adult. The tool was

40
found to be feasible to collect required information. The subject responded well for the

questions and they did not experience any difficulty in understanding the tool.

Reliability of the tool

The reliability of the measuring instrument is a major criteria for assessing the

quality and adequacy. The reliability of instrument is the degree of consistency with

which it measures the attribute, it is supposed to measure, it refers to the extent to which

the same results are obtained at repeated administration of the instrument.

In order to establish the reliability of the tool it was administrated to ten adult of

21 to 50 years residing at Athmeya Geleyarabalaga colony, Bangalore.The split half

method was used to test the reliability of the tool. The test was first divided into two

equivalent halves and correlation for the half test was found by using Karl Person’s

correlation co-efficient formula and significance of correlation was tested. The reliability

of the tool was observed and reliability was found r = 0.864. Hence the tool was found

high reliable.

Data Collection Method

A formal written permission was obtained from the medical officer of urban

family welfare center, Mahalakshmi Layout, Bangalore. The data collection was done at

Jayachamarajendra Nagar, Bangalore from 3rd Sept. 2007 to 3rd Oct. 2007 from urban

adults who fulfilled the inclusion and exclusion criteria.

Before interview, the purpose of the interview was explained to the respondents

with self introduction and written consent of the respondents were sought. The

41
investigator and the subject were seated in a quiet place facing each other and then

conducted the structured interview schedule to get response for each item regarding

knowledge on Alzheimer’s disease. The data collection took average time of about 30 –

40 minute and response by the respondents were marked down by investigator

immediately. Giving thanks to the respondents, the data collection procedure was

terminated. Thus the knowledge regarding Alzheimer’s disease of 100 adults was

assessed.

Plan for data analysis

The data obtained were analyzed on the basis of objectives and assumption of the

study. The data obtained was analyzed by using descriptive and inferential statistical

tests.

The data analysis plan was as follows

• Organizing the data in a master sheet and micro soft excel sheet.

• Computation of frequencies and percentage

• Computation of mean and standard deviation

• Use of descriptive and inferential statistics Karl Pearson correlation

coefficient test, chi square test both are tested at 0.05 level of significance to

find out the significance between the level of knowledge score in relation to

demographic variables. The data are represented by using various graphical

devices the bar diagram, pie diagram etc.,

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 5. RESULTS

In order to find a meaningful answer to the research question the collected data

must be processed, analyzed in some orderly coherent fashion, so that patterns and

relationships can be discerned.

Analyzing is the categorizing, ordering, manipulation and summarizing of data to

obtain answers to the research questions.

A descriptive design was used in the present study. To assess the knowledge of

adults regarding Alzheimer’s disease. Data collected from 100 adults of

Jayachamarajendranagar, Bangalore were tabulated, analyzed and interpreted by using

descriptive and inferential statistics based on the objectives of the study.

The findings of the study were presented under the following sections

Section A : Demographic characteristics of the respondents

Section B : Area wise knowledge score of adults regarding Alzheimer’s disease

Section C: The findings related to association between knowledge and selected

demographic variables.

Section A

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 In this the description of demographic characteristics of the respondents is drawn

and its percentage analysis has been done. The obtained data on respondents

characteristics were described under the sub headings of age, gender, marital status,

educational level, occupational status, religion, family income, type of family, family

size, family history of mental illness, family members suffering from Alzheimer’s disease

and source of information regarding Alzheimer’s disease.

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 Section A: Demographic characteristics of respondents.

n=100

Figure 3: Frequency and percentage distribution of respondents according to

their age

The majority of adults 39 percent were in the age group of 31 – 40 years followed

by 34 percent were in the age group between 21 – 30 years and 27 percent were in age

group between 41 – 50 years. Figure 3.

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 n=100

Figure 4: Frequency and percentage distribution of respondents according to

their gender

Out of 100 adults, majority of adults 56 percent were males and 44 percent were

females. Figure 4.

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 n=100

Figure 5: Frequency and percentage distribution of respondents according to

their marital status

Among the total respondents, majority of 64 percent were married, 18 percent

were bachelor, 11 percent were spinster and 7 percent were widow. Figure 5.

47
 n=100

Figure 6: Frequency and percentage distribution of respondents according to

their educational level

48
 Out of 100 adults 35 percent were educated up to high school level, 34 percent

were graduates and 22 percent adults were having educational qualification till PUC. In

this study only 9 percent were post graduates. Figure 6.

49
 n=100

Figure 7: Frequency and percentage distribution of respondents according to

their occupational status

Among total respondents 29 percent were private employees, 25 percent were

housewives, 16 percent were government employees and only about 11 percent were

laborers. Figure 7.

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 n=100

Figure 8: Frequency and percentage distribution of respondents according to

their religion

51
 Out of 100 respondents the majority of the respondents 68 percent were belongs

to Hindu religion, 19 percent were belongs to Christian religion and 13 percent were

belongs to Muslim religion. Figure 8.

52
 n=100

Figure 9: Frequency and percentage distribution of respondents according to

their family income per month

Among the total respondents, 49 percent were earning Rs.5001-10000 per month,

27 percent were earning below Rs.5000 and 24 percent were earning above Rs.10,001

monthly family income. Figure 9.

53
 n=100

Figure 10: Frequency and percentage distribution of respondents according

to their type of family

Out of 100 respondents 65 percent respondents were belongs to nuclear family,

29 percent belongs to joint family and only 6 percent respondents belongs to extended

family. Figure 10.

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 n=100

Figure 11: Frequency and percentage distribution of respondents according

to their family size

Out of 100 respondents 52 percent were from the family size of 3–4 member, 36

percent were from the family size of above 5 – 6 members and 12 percent respondents

were over 6 member of family size. Figure 11.

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56
 Table 1: Frequency and Percentage distribution of respondents according to their

family characteristics of respondents

n=100
Characteristics Category Respondents
Number Percent
Family history of mental Yes 6 6.0
illness No 94 94.0
Family members suffering Yes 2 2.0
from Alzheimer’s disease No 98 98.0
Source of information Television / radio 11 11.0
Magazines / newspaper 13 13.0
Family member / friends 6 6.0
No 67 67.0
Total 100 100.0

The data presented in table 1 depicts the frequency and percentage distribution of

respondents according to their family related characteristics of respondents.

About 6 percent respondents were having the family history of mental illness and

94 percent respondents were not having family history of mental illness.

Regarding family member suffering from Alzheimer’s disease, 2 percent

respondents were having a family member suffering from Alzheimer’s disease and 98

percent respondents were not having a family member suffering from Alzheimer’s

disease.

About the source of information regarding Alzheimer’s disease 67 percent

respondents were not having any source of information regarding Alzheimer’s disease, 13

percent respondents were receiving source of information through magazine and

newspaper, 11 percent respondents were receiving source of information through

television and radio, 6 percent respondents were receiving source of information through

family members and friends.

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 Section B :Area wise knowledge score of adults regarding Alzheimer’s disease.

This section deals with the analysis and interpretation of the data related to

Alzheimer’s disease knowledge of adults and ranking of knowledge scores. Thus helps in

identifying the deficiencies in knowledge and to decide the priority needs of adults.

Knowledge score of adults were obtained by structured interview schedule.

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 Table – 2 : Aspect wise mean knowledge of respondents regarding Alzheimer’s

disease

n = 100
No. Aspects Statements Max Range Respondents Knowledge
score Score Mean Mean SD
(%)
I Meaning & 3 3 0-3 1.87 62.2 29.7
definition
II Incidence & 2 2 0-2 1.00 50.0 39.1
prevalence
III Etiology 3 3 0-3 1.50 50.0 25.7

IV Signs & symptoms 10 10 1-10 5.07 50.7 24.4

V Investigation & 12 12 1-11 6.73 56.1 20.0

management
Total 30 30 9-26 16.17 53.9 15.5

Table 2 reveals the aspects wise of mean knowledge score of adults regarding

Alzheimer’s disease in different areas like meaning, definition, incidence and prevalence,

etiology, signs and symptom, investigation and management are discussed.

Findings show that the highest mean percentage 62.2 percent of knowledge score

in the area of meaning definition of Alzheimer’s disease. (SD of 29.7, mean 1.87), the

least mean percentage of 50 percent of knowledge score is found in the area of incidence

and prevalence and cause, (SD of 39.1, mean 1), (SD of 25.7, mean 1.50) in the area of

signs and symptoms the mean percentage of knowledge score 50.7 percent (SD of 24.4,

mean 5.07) in the area of investigation and management mean percentage of knowledge

score. 56.1 percent (SD of 20, mean 6.73), total knowledge score mean percentage 53.9

percent, SD of 15.5, mean 16.17.

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 Table 3: Frequency and Percentage distribution of respondents according to their

knowledge level on Alzheimer’s disease

n=100
Knowledge level Respondents
Number Percent

Inadequate (50 %) 47 47.0

Moderate (51-75 %) 37 37.0

Adequate (> 75 %) 16 16.0

Total 100 100.0

The data presented in table 3 depicts the knowledge level on Alzheimer’s disease,

out of 100 respondents 16 percent were having adequate knowledge, 37 percent were

having moderate knowledge, and 47 percent were having inadequate knowledge on

Alzheimer’s disease.

60