Evaluation of the knowledge, attitudes, and perception of caregivers of elderly individuals suffering from Alzheimer’s disease at selected hospitals in Delhi

Abstract

Background: Neurons in the cerebral cortex and some subcortical areas gradually and selectively degenerate in Alzheimer\'s disease, a chronic neurological condition. It has no known cure and is the primary cause of impairment in the elderly. A little over half of those with Alzheimer\'s get help from friends and family at home. Family members bear a large portion of the responsibility for caring for patients with Alzheimer\'s disease. Aim: The objective of this research was to evaluate the knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) of caregivers for elderly individuals with Alzheimer’s disease at selected hospitals in Delhi. Material and Methods: This study was descriptive in nature and involved 30 caregivers of elderly individuals diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. The researcher created a questionnaire that consisted of four sections for data collection. Section A focused on the demographic characteristics of the participants. Section B examined the knowledge of caregivers regarding elderly individuals with Alzheimer’s disease. Section C evaluates the attitudes of caregivers towards elderly individuals with Alzheimer’s disease using a rating scale. Section D assessed the practices of caregivers dealing with Alzheimer’s disease. Both descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyze the data. Results: The research indicated that 53.3% of participants possessed a strong understanding, while 33.3% demonstrated an average level of knowledge, and merely 413.4% exhibited below-average knowledge. A significant number of caregivers displayed a negative attitude towards client care, with only 50% exhibiting positive attitudes. The majority of caregivers were observed to engage in poor practices, with just 10% adhering to good practices. Conclusion: There is a recognized necessity for the education and support of caregivers for individuals with Alzheimer’s disease. The research indicated that while caregivers possessed a solid understanding of Alzheimer’s disease, most expressed feelings of stress related to their caregiving responsibilities, and a significant number were observed to engage in inadequate practices. Therefore, it is essential to provide caregivers with education regarding the characteristics of the disease and its progression.

Introduction

• Aging increases vulnerability to chronic illnesses like Alzheimer’s disease, a progressive, irreversible neurological condition.

• It primarily affects those 65+, though cases in individuals 40+ also occur.

• The amyloid cascade hypothesis is the most widely studied explanation, particularly in early-onset familial Alzheimer’s, where genetic mutations increase production of A-Beta protein.

• Hallmarks of the disease include neurofibrillary tangles, senile plaques, acetylcholine deficiency, and cortical neuron degeneration.

• It severely impacts patients and their caregivers, especially female family members, often causing emotional and physical stress among caregivers.

II. Research Methods

• Design: Quantitative, descriptive study conducted in two hospitals in Delhi.

• Sample: 30 caregivers of Alzheimer’s patients aged 21–50+.

• Sampling: Purposive sampling.

• Data Collection: Structured interviews using a researcher-developed tool covering:

  • Demographics

  • Knowledge questionnaire

  • Attitude rating scale

  • Practice questionnaire

III. Data Analysis

• Used descriptive and inferential statistics.

• Reliability of the tool was high (r = 0.88 via test-retest).

• Chi-square tests showed significant relationships (p < 0.05) between caregiver attributes and knowledge, attitude, and practices.

IV. Key Findings

Demographics

• 46.7% of caregivers were over 50, and 60% were female.

• 43.3% held graduate degrees; 86.6% earned over ?15,000/month.

• Most caregivers were spouses (66.6%) or adult children.

Knowledge

• 53.3% had above-average knowledge.

• Knowledge significantly correlated with education, income, and duration of caregiving.

Attitude

• 50% reported occasional stress, 30% felt no stress, and 20% experienced frequent stress.

• Attitude was linked to education and caregiving duration.

Practices

• 66.7% showed poor caregiving practices; only 10% showed good practices.

• Practice levels were significantly related to education and income.

Conclusion

The research aimed to evaluate the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of caregivers for elderly individuals with Alzheimer’s disease. It was discovered that while the caregivers possessed a good level of knowledge, a significant number reported experiencing stress related to their caregiving responsibilities. Furthermore, many exhibited suboptimal practices in caring for their clients. Given that there is currently no cure for Alzheimer’s disease, it is crucial to enhance and support the quality of life for patients, their families, and their caregivers to the greatest extent possible. The strain on caregivers can be alleviated through education on appropriate care techniques and by implementing necessary measures to safeguard the caregivers\' social lives and mental well-being.

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Copyright

Copyright © 2025 Rachna Panghal, Dr. Praveen Kumar Ashok, Dr. Arti Rauthan. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.