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Background Stigma significantly impacts individuals with Parkinson’s disease (PD) and their caregivers, exacerbating social isolation, psychological distress, and reducing quality of life (QoL). Although considerable research has been conducted on PD’s clinical aspects, the social and emotional challenges, like stigma, remain underexplored. Addressing stigma is crucial for enhancing well-being, fostering inclusivity and improving access to care and support. The review aims to fill this knowledge gap by synthesising existing literature on PD stigma, examining its effects on individuals and families affected, and identifying areas where interventions could reduce stigma’s impact. Methods This systematic review was conducted following Joanna Briggs Institute guidance. Studies were identified through searches in six databases, relevant websites, and reference lists. Covidence was used for duplicate removal, screening, and data extraction. Thematic analysis identified key themes from qualitative data, while narrative synthesis integrated findings from qualitative and quantitative studies. The review protocol was registered on PROSPERO (CRD42023399343). Results This review included 22 studies published between 2002 and 2024, using both qualitative and quantitative methodologies. Five key themes emerged. The first highlighted stereotypes in PD, such as misconceptions about symptoms, age stereotyping, and supernatural beliefs. The second explored drivers and facilitators of stigma, identifying factors like duration since diagnosis, disease severity, lack of public education, and media representation. The third theme revealed stigma’s impact on mental health and well-being, exacerbating feelings of shame, embarrassment, and social isolation. The fourth, responses and consequences of stigma, detailed strategies employed by individuals with PD to manage stigma, including seeking social support and adopting coping mechanisms. The fifth theme, beyond stigma, explored positive aspects of living with PD, highlighting resilience, positive interactions, and advocacy efforts. Conclusion This systematic review underscores the significant impact of stigma on individuals with PD and their caregivers, manifesting as social isolation, diminished QoL, and psychological distress. Key drivers include public misconceptions, cultural biases, and limited awareness and addressing these challenges requires targeted interventions. Recommendations include education to dispel myths, public awareness campaigns and advocacy efforts to reduce stigma, enhance support, and improve QoL.

Background Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a progressive neurological disorder characterised by motor and non-motor symptoms that significantly impact quality of life (QoL). Despite its growing prevalence, public awareness and understanding of PD remain limited, contributing to stigma and social isolation. This study evaluates public knowledge and perceptions of PD across Ireland to identify educational gaps and inform public health initiatives. Methods A cross-sectional survey was conducted from January to April 2024, using a modified version of existing questionnaires on PD knowledge. The survey was distributed online via social media platforms and charity networks, targeting adults residing in Ireland. Descriptive statistics and chi-square tests were employed to analyse the data. Ethical approval for this study was obtained from the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Queen’s University Belfast (MHLS23_132). Results A total of 796 respondents completed the survey, predominantly female (83.4%) and aged 18–24 (31.7%). While 92.9% recognised PD as a neurological disorder, misconceptions about its classification persisted. Awareness of motor symptoms like tremor and bradykinesia was high, but non-motor symptoms such as chronic fatigue were less recognised. Only 42% were aware of available treatments, and 33.7% had encountered PD-related stigma. Social media emerged as the preferred platform for raising awareness, cited by 46.2% of participants. Conclusion The findings reveal critical knowledge gaps and stigma regarding PD, emphasising the need for targeted educational initiatives. Public health campaigns, particularly leveraging social media, are essential to enhance understanding, reduce misconceptions, and improve QoL for individuals with PD. By addressing awareness and encouraging a supportive environment, these initiatives can contribute to better public perception and management of PD.

The global impact of dementia is a key healthcare priority, and although it is possible to live well with dementia, public perception is often negative. Serious digital games are becoming a credible delivery method to educate/train individuals in the business and health sectors and to challenge perceptions. The main objective of the study was to evaluate the effectiveness of a digital game prototype on individual attitudes towards dementia. A digital game to improve public knowledge and understanding about dementia ( www.dementiagame.com ) was co-designed with people living with dementia and student nurses. The Game was evaluated using a pretest-posttest design. Participants for the evaluation were recruited via social media in one UK university and completed the Approaches to Dementia Questionnaire (ADQ) before and after playing the game. Overall, 457 individuals completed both pre and post test questionnaires. The total ADQ score demonstrated a significant improvement in positive attitudes (p < 0.001), and both subscales of Hope and Recognition of Personhood also saw significant improvements (p < 0.001). The use of a serious digital game has demonstrated a significant effect on the respondents’ perceptions of dementia. Overall, there was a more positive view of the abilities of people with dementia and what their capabilities were. They were also more likely to be recognised as unique individuals with the same values as any other person. The benefit of using digital gaming to improve perceptions of dementia has been demonstrated, nonetheless further research is required to reach a more diverse population and test as a Randomised Control Trial to provide definitive evidence for use in policy and practice.

Influenza is a serious global healthcare issue that is associated with between 290,000 to 650,000 deaths annually. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of a 'serious game' about influenza, on nursing student attitude, knowledge and uptake of the influenza vaccination. 1306 undergraduate nursing students were invited, via email, to play an online game about influenza between September 2018 and March 2019. 430 nursing students accessed the game and completed an 8-item questionnaire measuring their attitudes to influenza between September 2018 and March 2019. In April 2019, 356 nursing students from this sample completed a follow-up 2-item questionnaire about their uptake of the influenza vaccination. A larger separate 40-item knowledge questionnaire was completed by a year one cohort of 124 nursing students in August 2018 prior to receiving access to the game and then after access to the game had ended, in April 2019. This sample was selected to determine the extent to which the game improved knowledge about influenza amongst a homogenous group. In the year preceding this study, 36.7% of the sample received an influenza vaccination. This increased to 47.8% after accessing to the game. Nursing students reported perceived improvements in their knowledge, intention to get the vaccination and intention to recommend the vaccination to their patients after playing the game. Nursing students who completed the 40-item pre- and post-knowledge questionnaire scored an average of 68.6% before receiving access to the game and 85.2% after. Using Paired T-Tests statistical analysis, it was determined that this 16.6% increase was highly statistically significant (P < 0.001). The research highlights that the influenza game can improve knowledge and intention to become vaccinated. This study suggests that improvement in influenza knowledge is likely to encourage more nursing students to receive the influenza vaccination.

Background Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a chronic neurological disorder that affects around 24,000 people in Ireland. Despite being relatively common, awareness and understanding of the condition remain limited, often leading to misconceptions, stigma, and social isolation for those diagnosed. This study aimed to investigate how these challenges impact individuals with PD, drawing on the experiences and insights of Parkinson’s disease nurse specialists (PDNS). By exploring the perspectives of PDNS, this research seeks to highlight the effects of stigma and public misunderstanding on the quality of life of those living with PD. Methods Semi-structured interviews and focus groups were conducted with 10 PDNs working in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland between May and June 2024. The study employed an interpretivist approach and reflexive thematic analysis following Braun and Clarke’s six-step framework. Ethical approval was obtained prior to data collection. Results Five main themes were developed from the analysis: (1) Public knowledge of PD and Stigma, (2) Lived Experiences, (3) Support Systems and Services, (4) Increasing awareness of Parkinson’s Disease, and (5) The Role of the PD Nurse. PDNS noted that limited public awareness of PD leads to misconceptions and stigma, negatively impacting the quality of life for those affected. PDNS also emphasised that raising awareness through education, campaigns, and their own role can help improve outcomes for individuals living with PD. Discussion The study highlights the complex relationship between public understanding, perceptions, and the quality of life for individuals with PD, as viewed through the lens of Parkinson’s disease nurse specialists. Findings suggest that stigma and a lack of awareness contribute to emotional and social challenges, while strong support networks and public education can significantly enhance the experiences of those living with PD. The results underscore the need for widespread education, not only among the public but also within the healthcare sector, to better support individuals with PD in Ireland. Future research and targeted interventions should focus on increasing societal awareness to improve the lived experiences and well-being of those affected by the condition.

Individuals with dementia often experience stigmatisation and social exclusion. To develop dementia-friendly communities, it is important to take a life-course approach to enhance the perception of dementia in the general population. Currently, we lack an overall understanding of adolescent perceptions of dementia. This scoping review is the first to identify the existing literature on the knowledge and attitudes held by adolescents (aged 10-19 years) towards dementia. A JBI Scoping Review. Four bibliographic databases (MEDLINE, PsycINFO, EMBASE, and CINAHL) were searched to identify eligible studies. Eligibility criteria included qualitative and quantitative studies examining the knowledge and attitudes of adolescents (10-19-year-olds) towards dementia. Studies were screened for eligibility, with data extracted using JBI tools and synthesised in relation to i) knowledge and attitudes and ii) interventions. In total 21 publications were identified from the UK, Slovenia, the United States, Taiwan, Canada, Israel, South Africa, and South Korea. Ten of these studies included interventions. Overall, studies reported adolescents to have a relatively low level of objective knowledge about dementia. Conversely, attitudes towards dementia were largely reported to be neutral-positive. However, adolescents living with a relative with dementia often held predominantly negative attitudes towards the condition. Gender and having a family member living with dementia were important predictors of both knowledge and attitudes. Interventions to date are educational or intergenerational in focus and appear similarly effective in increasing attitudes and awareness towards dementia. The current scoping review identified a small but emergent body of literature on adolescent knowledge and attitudes towards dementia. The synthesised findings indicate low objective knowledge to be a particularly useful target for intervention and alongside other findings, will be useful to inform future research, particularly the development of high-quality intervention studies.

Background There appears to be a lack of empirical investigation on how the public currently understands Parkinson's Disease (PD)and the impact this has on people with PD and their carers, across Ireland. This research hopes to build a greater public understanding of PD, reduce stigma and improve the quality of life for people with PD. The aim of this study is to (1) explore public perceptions, awareness and understanding about PD across the island of Ireland and (2) discover how this impacts people with PD and their families. Methods This study will adopt a mixed-methods, sequential explanatory methodology across four phases. This will include a systematic review of the literature, semi-structured interviews with people with PD and their carers, and focus groups with specialist PD professionals to determine how public perception impacts those living with PD. Following this, an online Delphi survey will be conducted with PD experts to determine a list of key priority areas for PD education. Discussion PD affects a large population of people worldwide and this number is expected to increase due to a progressively ageing population. There is a lack of empirical research exploring what the public know about PD and the impact this has on people living with the disease particularly in Ireland, therefore it is vital that we determine a list of priority areas for increasing PD awareness to improve the quality of life of those living with PD.

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a common neurological disease affecting around 1% of people above sixty years old. It is characterised by both motor and non-motor symptoms including tremor, slow movement, unsteady gait, constipation and urinary incontinence. As the disease progresses, individuals living with the disease are likely to lose their independence and autonomy, subsequently affecting their quality of life. People with PD should be supported to live well within their communities but there has been limited research regarding what the public know about PD. This review aims to develop an understanding of how the public view people living with PD, which has the potential to aid the development of an educational resource for the future to improve public awareness and understanding of PD. The purpose of this scoping review is to review and synthesise the literature on the public perception and attitudes towards people living with PD and identify and describe key findings. This scoping review aims to explore public perceptions and awareness of Parkinson's Disease among diverse populations, encompassing beliefs, knowledge, attitudes, and the broader societal context influencing these perceptions. A scoping review of the literature was conducted following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analysis extension for ScR (PRISMA-ScR). Four electronic databases were searched systematically (CINAHL Plus, Medline, PsycINFO and International Bibliography of the Social Sciences). The Joanna Briggs Institute Critical Appraisal Tools (JBI) were used to assess the quality of primary studies, however, all relevant studies were considered regardless of their methodological quality. The 'Population-Concept-Context' framework was used in the screening process to identify eligible papers. A total of 23 studies were included in the review representing global research in quantitative (n = 12) and mixed methods approaches (n = 11). All 23 studies adopted some aspect of cross-sectional design. Three themes emerged from the studies, the first being public knowledge of symptoms, causes and treatment of PD and this highlighted a lack of understanding about the disease. Secondly, the review identified public attitudes towards PD, highlighting the social consequences of the disease, including the association between PD and depression, isolation and loss of independence. Finally, the third theme highlighted that there was a paucity of educational resources available to help increase public understanding of PD. Findings from this scoping review have indicated that public awareness of PD is a growing area of interest. To our knowledge, this is the first scoping review on this topic and review findings have indicated that public knowledge and attitudes towards PD vary internationally. The implications of this are that people with PD are more likely to be a marginalised group within their communities. Future research should focus on understanding the perception of the public from the perspective of people with PD, the development of interventions and awareness campaigns to promote public knowledge and attitude and further high-quality research to gauge public perceptions of PD.

Introduction Although it is possible to live well with dementia and many individuals with dementia lead active lives with the help of family, friends, and communities, the general impression of dementia is frequently negative. Dementia is a global health issue. Despite this, little research has been done on the effects of innovative dementia education strategies among undergraduate nursing students. The aim of this study was therefore to assess if this serious digital game, originally intended for the public, could increase knowledge about dementia in first-year nursing students. Methods The intervention was a digital serious game called “The Dementia Game”, which was available to students throughout February 2021, to a convenience sample of first-year undergraduate nursing students (n = 560) completing a BSc Honours Nursing Degree programme in one university in Northern Ireland. The game was evaluated using a pretest-posttest design. The questionnaire comprised of a 30- item true- false Alzheimer’s Disease Knowledge Scale (ADKS), which covers risk factors, assessment and diagnosis, symptoms, course, life impact, caregiving and treatment and management. Data were analysed using paired t-tests and descriptive statistics. Results Overall dementia knowledge increased significantly after playing the game. Pre-test to post-test increases were observed across a range of seven categories of dementia knowledge (life impact, risk factors, symptoms, treatment, assessment, caregiving and trajectory), with particularly large increases in knowledge of trajectory and risk factors, as shown using paired t-tests. All pre-test to post-test comparisons were significant at the p < 0.001 level. Conclusions A short serious digital game on dementia improved first-year student’s knowledge about dementia. Undergraduate students also expressed that this approach to dementia education was effective in improving their knowledge about the disease.