Background: According to surveys conducted in several countries, public awareness and knowledge of aphasia are inadequately low. Persons with aphasia appoint this fact as a relevant environmental barrier. Aims: The present inquiry aims at analyzing the status of awareness and knowledge about aphasia in Italy. Methods & Procedures: An original questionnaire was distributed online through a snowball sampling method on the Italian adult population. Respondents were asked if they had heard of the term “aphasia” and subsequently tested on its definition and clinical characteristics. Similar questions regarding “celiac disease” and “Down syndrome” were asked for comparison. Demographic data and information about the source of knowledge were also recorded. Outcomes & Results: Considering 2172 respondents, 62.4% had heard of aphasia, 58.2% showed definition knowledge while 4.6% complete general knowledge. These rates were lower than those for the other medical conditions. Older age, female gender, higher education, and being a health professional were significantly associated with awareness. The questionnaire highlighted poor knowledge about the social and functional consequences of aphasia. Conclusions: Overall, the rates of aphasia awareness and knowledge were low. Despite health professionals performed better, the level of general knowledge was also poor among these respondents. These preliminary data set the need for further inquiries, undertaking appropriate methodological ameliorations.
Vigano, M., Gilardone, G., Cassinelli, D., Fumagalli, F., Scialla, M., Gilardone, M., et al. (2022). The Italian Aphasia Awareness Survey (IAAS): an online questionnaire about the public knowledge of aphasia in Italy, informative findings. APHASIOLOGY, 36(5), 599-617 [10.1080/02687038.2021.1897078].
The Italian Aphasia Awareness Survey (IAAS): an online questionnaire about the public knowledge of aphasia in Italy, informative findings
Gilardone G.;Dameno R.;
2022
Abstract
Background: According to surveys conducted in several countries, public awareness and knowledge of aphasia are inadequately low. Persons with aphasia appoint this fact as a relevant environmental barrier. Aims: The present inquiry aims at analyzing the status of awareness and knowledge about aphasia in Italy. Methods & Procedures: An original questionnaire was distributed online through a snowball sampling method on the Italian adult population. Respondents were asked if they had heard of the term “aphasia” and subsequently tested on its definition and clinical characteristics. Similar questions regarding “celiac disease” and “Down syndrome” were asked for comparison. Demographic data and information about the source of knowledge were also recorded. Outcomes & Results: Considering 2172 respondents, 62.4% had heard of aphasia, 58.2% showed definition knowledge while 4.6% complete general knowledge. These rates were lower than those for the other medical conditions. Older age, female gender, higher education, and being a health professional were significantly associated with awareness. The questionnaire highlighted poor knowledge about the social and functional consequences of aphasia. Conclusions: Overall, the rates of aphasia awareness and knowledge were low. Despite health professionals performed better, the level of general knowledge was also poor among these respondents. These preliminary data set the need for further inquiries, undertaking appropriate methodological ameliorations.
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