Running Head: ALZHEIMER DISEASE (AD)
1
ALZHEIMER DISEASE
2
Misperception and Representation of People with Alzheimer Disease
Name
University
Professor
Date
Misperception and Representation of People with Alzheimer Disease
Specific Aims
It is common knowledge that most of the people with Alzheimer disease have been misunderstood and continually misrepresented in the society all over the world. This has been the phenomenon since neuropsychologist discovered the disease in more than a century ago. Misrepresentation and misperception of people living with Alzheimer's disease (AD) have not just sent the patients to isolation but it has also contributed to the fewer acceptances of the people with the mental disorder. most of the people with the disorder have been dismissed from their workplace and discriminated against in most social places by the people who have low knowledge on the disorder as most of them whose mental fitness are yet to be discovered have been deemed misfit in the society and condemned to their houses and homes (Alzheimer's Association. 2013). Most of the developed nations have developed frameworks which have been used to detect this neurodegenerative disease which start as a normal disease and worsen the condition of the patient when it becomes chronic. However, this is not the case among most of the developing nations and even the structures in the developed nations are not sufficient which has made most of the people not to have sufficient knowledge on the cause, symptoms, and diagnosis of the mental illness. most of the people with Alzheimer's, usually become withdraw as most of the people in the society discriminate and stigmatize against them through misrepresentation and perceiving them in a wrong perspective. The study will seek to bring at an end the experience that people with Alzheimer face when they are misunderstood and misperceived in the society and develop health programs that can be used to eliminate the phenomenon.
Background to the Study
Studies have revealed that 60-70% of dementia is as a result of Alzheimer and the most common symptom of the disease is short-term memory loss which makes the patients not to remember events that took place recently. however, the symptoms and effects of the disease increase as the mental illness become more chronic and other symptoms may include and not limited to problems with language, disorientation which result to the patient getting lost, develop mood swings, lack self-care among other (Fratiglioni et al, 2009). The end of it is that the patients isolate and withdraw from the society. The fact that most of the patient loses their body functions and eventually dies has been a reason why most of the people in the society have distanced themselves with people with Alzheimer disease. The understanding of the disease is that one will have a life expectancy of fewer than nine years has also been an issue as it has caused much harm to the pat ...
1. Running Head: ALZHEIMER DISEASE (AD)
1
ALZHEIMER DISEASE
2
Misperception and Representation of People with Alzheimer
Disease
Name
University
Professor
Date
Misperception and Representation of People with Alzheimer
Disease
Specific Aims
It is common knowledge that most of the people with Alzheimer
disease have been misunderstood and continually
misrepresented in the society all over the world. This has been
2. the phenomenon since neuropsychologist discovered the disease
in more than a century ago. Misrepresentation and
misperception of people living with Alzheimer's disease (AD)
have not just sent the patients to isolation but it has also
contributed to the fewer acceptances of the people with the
mental disorder. most of the people with the disorder have been
dismissed from their workplace and discriminated against in
most social places by the people who have low knowledge on
the disorder as most of them whose mental fitness are yet to be
discovered have been deemed misfit in the society and
condemned to their houses and homes (Alzheimer's Association.
2013). Most of the developed nations have developed
frameworks which have been used to detect this
neurodegenerative disease which start as a normal disease and
worsen the condition of the patient when it becomes chronic.
However, this is not the case among most of the developing
nations and even the structures in the developed nations are not
sufficient which has made most of the people not to have
sufficient knowledge on the cause, symptoms, and diagnosis of
the mental illness. most of the people with Alzheimer's, usually
become withdraw as most of the people in the society
discriminate and stigmatize against them through
misrepresentation and perceiving them in a wrong perspective.
The study will seek to bring at an end the experience that
people with Alzheimer face when they are misunderstood and
misperceived in the society and develop health programs that
can be used to eliminate the phenomenon.
Background to the Study
Studies have revealed that 60-70% of dementia is as a result of
Alzheimer and the most common symptom of the disease is
short-term memory loss which makes the patients not to
remember events that took place recently. however, the
symptoms and effects of the disease increase as the mental
illness become more chronic and other symptoms may include
3. and not limited to problems with language, disorientation which
result to the patient getting lost, develop mood swings, lack
self-care among other (Fratiglioni et al, 2009). The end of it is
that the patients isolate and withdraw from the society. The fact
that most of the patient loses their body functions and
eventually dies has been a reason why most of the people in the
society have distanced themselves with people with Alzheimer
disease. The understanding of the disease is that one will have
a life expectancy of fewer than nine years has also been an issue
as it has caused much harm to the patients and the patients'
families (Herrmann et al, 2017). It is because of the effects that
result from misunderstanding, discrimination, stigmatizing of
these group of small interests that it has merited this study
proposal. It should be understood that the social phenomenon
directed at these people result to labeling, stereotyping among
other social problems, which affect the families of the patients
more so children of the patients. It is very clear from the study
by (Susan, 2012) that it becomes very difficult to deal with the
stress resulting from withdrawal, discrimination,
misrepresentation, and misperception of these patients. It is
there for important that people with the mental disorder should
not be subjected to stress since it only adds to the psychological
problems already torturing them.
The significance of the Study
One of something that has caused misrepresentation and
stigmatization among the people with Alzheimer's disease is
lack of understanding of the illness. About 70% of the risk of
the illness is associated to a genetic cause; others believe that it
is caused by the history of head injury, hypertension, and
depression (Chandra et al, 2001). Other relates the disease to
plagues and tangles in the brain of the patients. The myths
surrounding the cause of the disease has been the major reasons
that have contributed to misperception and misrepresentation of
the patients with the disease resulting to stigmatization and
4. discrimination of the patients as people in the society have less
knowledge on the illness (Werner, & Hess, 2016). It was
important that a study proposal is done to create more
knowledge on the cause, symptoms, and diagnosis of the
Alzheimer disease so as to reduce the cases of stigmatization
and discrimination that result from lack of information and
knowledge on the illness. Understanding the cause and
symptoms related to the disease will help to develop a program
that will help to reduce the psychological problems and other
health-related issues that face this special group of people
(Evans et al, 2009). The additional findings from the study will
also help to educate the family and the community on how they
can deal with people with the mental problem so that are not
stigmatized and misperceived in the society. It is important that
the society is educated about their role to help the people living
with Alzheimer's disease in the society that they can help them
live a long and healthy life.
Proposed Study
Participants:
The proposed study will target hospitals, research centers,
clinics, and community groups that deal with people with
Alzheimer’s disease in the area. The study participants will be
male and female who will be selected in the ratio of 45-55
respectively given that women are likely to be more of
volunteers and nurses or rather medical practitioners in these
identified centers. All the study participants should be of sound
mind and will be aged between 18-50 years cutting across all
continents, and social statuses.
Procedures:
For every long time, scientific research has employed different
research technique to collect data and get more insight of the
5. data that was collected something that is contrary to other
sampling methods. The best-known technique that has been used
in the past is the snowball technique (Casado et al, 2017). The
study will be aimed at collecting primary data which will be
used to generate findings and it is because of this that deep
face-to-face interviews will be used to collect the data in the
study. The questions that will be used will be open-ended. It is
important to use open-ended questions in this study as they will
allow the researcher develop a question that will be used in
probing. The interviews are designed to last for 30-40 minutes
and it will be repeated until saturation is reached. The target
sample in the study will be 107 participants all selected
randomly.
Hypothesis and Analysis:
The primary data from the interviews will be coded in the
computer system using the available data collecting
supplications and software. Coding is important to studies as
they help to separate the most relevant interview texts that are
important to the study findings as compared to others. The data
collected in this study will be qualitative applications which can
be done through structural coding (Abojabel, & Werner, 2016).
This is done in a clear way depending on the number of the
participants involved, for instance, varying code occurrences
could be determined with an aim to help in identifying the ideas
commonly seen in many of the participants distinguishing them
from those that are seldom mentioned to a group of respondents.
Budget Justification
Direct Costs:
Personnel:
To ensure the study is conducted in a professional manner,
6. special and qualified research helper will be hired and is
expected to work for 3 hours daily from Monday-Saturday for
12 months and will be paid USD$24 per hour. The total
allocation to the specialized researcher will be USD$23040
since he will work for 48 weeks only. The specialized will be
charged with the task of overseeing what takes place daily.
Another specialist who will investigate the study at an interval
of 12 weeks to ensure that the progress is fine will be paid
USD$215 per interval of 12 weeks which will add up to
USD$860 to complete the proposal.
Equipment:
The research will require two laptops one for each specialized
professional to ensure that data is shared constantly as it is
collected. Two Smartphone, a video camera, online video
editing software, pens, books, and files.
2 laptops @ $1800 = $3600
2 Smartphone @ 70 = $140
Video camera $1000
Video editing software $300
1 packet of pens $30
A dozen of files $20
Travel Expenses:
Traveling expenses will be incurred when traveling to meet the
potential study participants and the total cost has been
estimated at $16000 since distance will vary.
7. Participant Support
Participants will be reimbursed each $100 as a token of
appreciation for participation summing up to $10700.
Miscellaneous Expenses
$1500 will be allocated for photocopying, phone bills, and
postage.
Indirect Costs:
Total Costs = 57190
Indirect Cost = 57190*0.37 = $21160.3
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