Perceptions of Alzheimer’s Disease in the French Population: Evolutions between 2008 and 2013 and Associated Factors in 2013

Abstract

Abstract

Background: The negative image surrounding AD has a substantial impact on caregiving and on those affected by the disease. Opinion surveys were created as part of the 2008–2012 Alzheimer Plan in France, which included two surveys of the general population, at the beginning and at the end.

Objective: To evaluate changes of the French population in perceptions, knowledge and beliefs over 5 years and to analyze dimensions with sociodemographics criteria and proximity with AD.

Methods: After selection by quota sampling, 2013 French people aged 18 years and over were interviewed by phone in 2008 and 2509 in 2013. Chi-squared tests were carried out to measure the changes between two periods and multivariate logistics regressions were used to assess perceptions.

Results: People who cited AD as one of the three most serious diseases increased in 2013 (33.6% versus 26.7% in 2008; p <  0.001). There was no significant change as regards the fear, the sense of being informed and the feeling of embarrassment. Opinions “there are treatments available to improve the wellbeing of patients” and “it is normal to suffer memory loss as you get older” decreased in 2013. Close family carers had a greater sense of the seriousness, a higher risk perception, a better sense of being informed and a greater ease in the presence of a person with AD.

Conclusions: The results serve as indicators of the effects of the Alzheimer Plan on French society and testify to the rather weak impact of the Plan on public opinion.