Background Raising the general population knowledge of Alzheimer’s disease is crucial for optimizing care and ultimately enhancing the quality of life of people diagnosed and their caregivers. Aim To assess knowledge among the general population in Makkah Region about symptoms, diagnosis, causes, course, life impact, care giving, and management of Alzheimer disease. Material and methods A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted during July to August 2018 in three main cities of Makkah Region, i.e., Makkah, Jeddah, and Taif, Saudi Arabia. Two to three mosques and/or malls were selected randomly from a list of all mosques and malls in each city, and then every fifth subject was selected using a systematic random technique, entering the mall or getting out from the mosques. Both genders, aged 18 years or more and able to understand Arabic were included. Valid and reliable Alzheimer’s Disease Knowledge Scale (ADKS) was used to assess knowledge about the diseases, in addition to socio-demographic characteristics of the participants. Results The study included 862 adult participants. Their age ranged between 18 and 65 years with a mean ± standard deviation (SD) of 31.2 ± 10.3 years. History of having a relative with Alzheimer’s disease was mentioned by 20.8% of the participants. Overall, the percentage of total Alzheimer’s disease knowledge score ranged between 26.7 and 100% with a mean of 58.5%, median of 60%, mode of 56.7%, and standard deviation of ± 11.5%. There was a significant positive correlation between participant’s age and their knowledge regarding Alzheimer’s disease (Spearman’s correlation coefficient “ r ” = 0.099, p = 0.004). The highest known subscale of Alzheimer’s disease was assessment (mean percentage was 62.21%), followed by treatment (62.09), care giving (61.83%) and course of the disease (60.99%) whereas the lowest known subscale was symptoms (53.25%). Participants who reported a history of having a relative with Alzheimer’s disease were more knowledgeable regarding symptoms than those who did not had such history (mean ranks were 470.48 and 421.28, respectively), p = 0.014. Conclusion Knowledge of the general population in Makkah Region is deficient, particularly regarding symptoms, risk factors and life impacts. Therefore, health education campaigns are required for general public in this regards.

中文翻译：

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沙特阿拉伯王国麦加地区关于阿尔茨海默病的公共知识：一项横断面研究

背景 提高普通人群对阿尔茨海默病的了解对于优化护理并最终提高诊断出的患者及其护理人员的生活质量至关重要。目的 评估麦加地区一般人群对阿尔茨海默病的症状、诊断、原因、病程、生活影响、护理和管理的知识。材料和方法 2018 年 7 月至 8 月期间，在麦加地区的三个主要城市，即麦加、吉达和沙特阿拉伯的塔伊夫进行了描述性横断面研究。从每个城市的所有清真寺和购物中心的列表中随机选择两到三个清真寺和/或购物中心，然后使用系统随机技术选择每五个主题，进入购物中心或离开清真寺。无论男女，年龄在 18 岁或以上并且能够理解阿拉伯语的人也包括在内。除了参与者的社会人口学特征外，还使用有效且可靠的阿尔茨海默病知识量表 (ADKS) 来评估有关疾病的知识。结果 该研究包括 862 名成年参与者。他们的年龄介于 18 至 65 岁之间，平均 ± 标准差 (SD) 为 31.2 ± 10.3 岁。20.8% 的参与者提到了亲属患有阿尔茨海默病的病史。总体而言，阿尔茨海默病知识总得分的百分比介于 26.7% 和 100% 之间，平均值为 58.5%，中位数为 60%，众数为 56.7%，标准差为 ±11.5%。参与者的年龄与他们对阿尔茨海默病的了解之间存在显着的正相关（Spearman 相关系数“r”= 0.099，p = 0.004）。阿尔茨海默病已知的最高分量表是评估（平均百分比为 62.21%），其次是治疗（62.09）、护理（61.83%）和病程（60.99%），而最低的已知分量表是症状（53.25%） . 报告有阿尔茨海默病亲属病史的参与者比没有此类病史的参与者更了解症状（平均等级分别为 470.48 和 421.28），p = 0.014。结论 麦加地区一般人群的知识不足，尤其是在症状、风险因素和生活影响方面。因此，在这方面需要对公众进行健康教育运动。83%) 和病程 (60.99%) 而最低的已知分量表是症状 (53.25%)。报告有阿尔茨海默病亲属病史的参与者比没有此类病史的参与者更了解症状（平均等级分别为 470.48 和 421.28），p = 0.014。结论 麦加地区一般人群的知识不足，尤其是在症状、风险因素和生活影响方面。因此，在这方面需要对公众进行健康教育运动。83%) 和病程 (60.99%) 而最低的已知分量表是症状 (53.25%)。报告有阿尔茨海默病亲属病史的参与者比没有此类病史的参与者更了解症状（平均等级分别为 470.48 和 421.28），p = 0.014。结论 麦加地区一般人群的知识不足，尤其是在症状、风险因素和生活影响方面。因此，在这方面需要对公众进行健康教育运动。分别），p = 0.014。结论 麦加地区一般人群的知识不足，尤其是在症状、风险因素和生活影响方面。因此，在这方面需要对公众进行健康教育运动。分别），p = 0.014。结论 麦加地区一般人群的知识不足，尤其是在症状、风险因素和生活影响方面。因此，在这方面需要对公众进行健康教育运动。