ERIC Number: EJ1049660
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2015-Feb
Pages: 11
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1090-1981
EISSN: N/A
Improving Dementia Health Literacy Using the FLOW Mnemonic: Pilot Findings from the Old SCHOOL Hip-Hop Program
Noble, James M.; Hedmann, Monique G.; Williams, Olajide
Health Education & Behavior, v42 n1 p73-83 Feb 2015
Background: Dementia health literacy is low among the public and likely poses a significant barrier to Alzheimer's disease (AD) symptom recognition and treatment, particularly among minority populations already facing higher AD burden. We evaluated the pilot phase of a novel AD health education program, Old SCHOOL (Seniors Can Have Optimal Aging and Ongoing Longevity) Hip-Hop (OSHH), which is designed to enable children to be AD health educational conduits in the home ("child-mediated health communication"). Method: OSHH applied our stroke-validated model of engaging, dynamic, and age- and culturally appropriate curriculum delivered to elementary school-age children (fourth/fifth grades, ages 9-11 years). We assessed AD knowledge among the children at baseline, immediately following the intervention (1-hour program delivered daily over 3 consecutive days), and 3 months later. For key AD symptoms, we developed the FLOW mnemonic (forget, lose, overlook, write/wander); students were additionally taught action plans for recognized symptoms. Results: Seventy-five students completed baseline assessments, and 68 completed posttesting. AD symptoms in FLOW were not well known at baseline (individually ranging from 16% to 71% correct) but were highly learned after 3 days (89% to 98% correct) and retained well after 3 months (80% to 95% correct, 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 students (24%) reported having a close friend/family member with AD. Conclusions: This study suggests our hip-hop health education model may be an effective method to improve AD health literacy.
Descriptors: Music, Elementary School Students, Intervention, Dementia, Literacy, Symptoms (Individual Disorders), Alzheimers Disease, Aging (Individuals), Barriers, Recognition (Psychology), Health Education, Culturally Relevant Education, Minority Group Students, Mnemonics, Teaching Methods, Memory, Brain Hemisphere Functions, Student Attitudes, Health Promotion, Health Behavior
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Elementary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NIH); National Institutes of Health (DHHS)
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: R01 NS067443-01A1