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Nurses' Attitudes Toward Innovative Neurotherapies in Memory Disorders: A Pilot Study
Sini Huoponen1, Juho Kettunen2, Signe Mežinska3
1A.I.Virtanen Institute for Molecular Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland.
Background:
As the aging population increases, the prevalence of Alzheimer's disease and other memory disorders increases, and emerging neurotherapies offer new hope, yet little is known about nurses' knowledge and perspectives on these innovations, despite their critical role in patient care. This study aimed to investigate nurses' attitudes, expectations, concerns, and perspectives toward innovative therapies for memory disorders.
Methods:
A multiple-choice questionnaire (24 items) in Finnish was developed to explore nurses' views. The questionnaire was distributed via email to nursing homes in the Wellbeing Services County of North Savo, Finland, in autumn 2024. Composite scores for perceived benefits, perceived barriers, enabling factors, professional role-related responsibilities, and worries were generated for statistical analyses.
Results:
A total of 132 nurses responded to the survey, most of whom were practical nurses working in nursing homes. Overall familiarity with innovative neurotherapies was low, and many participants indicated that they were not at all familiar with these treatments. Opinions on the future role of such therapies in managing memory disorders varied, with some considering them significant or moderately important. Several respondents also expressed serious concerns regarding the efficacy and potential side effects of these therapies. Regression analyses showed that lower composite outcome scores were consistently associated with being a social and healthcare student, being somewhat familiar with innovative neurotherapies, and, in some models, with shorter work experience or specific workplace settings. However, adjusted R2 values ranged from 0.09 to 0.18, indicating that demographic and professional background factors explained only a modest proportion of variance in the composite outcomes.
Conclusion:
Nurses currently have limited familiarity with innovative neurotherapies, but there is cautious optimism about their future role in treating memory disorders, including Alzheimer's disease.
