Psychometric evaluation of the Alzheimer's Disease Knowledge Scale in Ecuadorian university students

José Alejandro Valdevila Figueira; Andrés Ramírez; María Alejandra Espinosa de los Monteros; Rocío Valdevila Santiesteban; Indira Dayana Carvajal Parra; Lilia Romero Sacoto; María José Pico Cucalón

doi:10.1177/25424823251386276

Psychometric evaluation of the Alzheimer's Disease Knowledge Scale in Ecuadorian university students

José Alejandro Valdevila Figueira
, Andrés Ramírez
, María Alejandra Espinosa de los Monteros
, Rocío Valdevila Santiesteban
, Indira Dayana Carvajal Parra
, Lilia Romero Sacoto
, María José Pico Cucalón

Applied Clinical Neuroscience Research Group (GINCA)

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

Background: Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the leading cause of dementia worldwide, with rising prevalence, high costs, and significant impact in Ecuador. Awareness and validated tools like the Alzheimer's Disease Knowledge Scale (ADKS) are crucial to improve training and early care. Objective: To evaluate the reliability and factorial structure of the ADKS in Ecuadorian university students enrolled in health science programs. Methods: A total of 1089 students completed the ADKS. Internal consistency was assessed using Cronbach's alpha and McDonald's omega coefficients. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was conducted using a Diagonally Weighted Least Squares (DWLS) estimator to evaluate the scale's structure. Results: The ADKS demonstrated acceptable internal consistency (α = 0.767, ω = 0.770). CFA supported the original one-factor model with strong fit indices (RMSEA = 0.047, SRMR = 0.012, CFI = 0.987, TLI = 0.973, RNI = 0.987, NFI = 0.986, RFI = 0.972, IFI = 0.987). These results confirm the scale's internal validity in this population. Conclusions: The ADKS is a reliable and valid instrument for assessing knowledge of Alzheimer's disease among Ecuadorian university students. Its use is recommended for both clinical training and public health education strategies focused on dementia awareness.

Original language	English
Journal	Journal of Alzheimer's Disease Reports
Volume	9
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1177/25424823251386276
State	Published - 1 Jan 2025

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© The Author(s) 2025. This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/) which permits non-commercial use, reproduction and distribution of the work without further permission provided the original work is attributed as specified on the SAGE and Open Access page (https://us.sagepub.com/en-us/nam/open-access-at-sage).

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 3 Good Health and Well-being

Keywords

Alzheimer's Disease Knowledge Scale (ADKS)
Alzheimer’s disease
dementia
knowledge
psychometrics
surveys and questionnaires
university students

Access to Document

10.1177/25424823251386276

Cite this

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title = "Psychometric evaluation of the Alzheimer's Disease Knowledge Scale in Ecuadorian university students",

abstract = "Background: Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the leading cause of dementia worldwide, with rising prevalence, high costs, and significant impact in Ecuador. Awareness and validated tools like the Alzheimer's Disease Knowledge Scale (ADKS) are crucial to improve training and early care. Objective: To evaluate the reliability and factorial structure of the ADKS in Ecuadorian university students enrolled in health science programs. Methods: A total of 1089 students completed the ADKS. Internal consistency was assessed using Cronbach's alpha and McDonald's omega coefficients. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was conducted using a Diagonally Weighted Least Squares (DWLS) estimator to evaluate the scale's structure. Results: The ADKS demonstrated acceptable internal consistency (α = 0.767, ω = 0.770). CFA supported the original one-factor model with strong fit indices (RMSEA = 0.047, SRMR = 0.012, CFI = 0.987, TLI = 0.973, RNI = 0.987, NFI = 0.986, RFI = 0.972, IFI = 0.987). These results confirm the scale's internal validity in this population. Conclusions: The ADKS is a reliable and valid instrument for assessing knowledge of Alzheimer's disease among Ecuadorian university students. Its use is recommended for both clinical training and public health education strategies focused on dementia awareness.",

keywords = "Alzheimer's Disease Knowledge Scale (ADKS), Alzheimer{\textquoteright}s disease, dementia, knowledge, psychometrics, surveys and questionnaires, university students",

author = "\{Valdevila Figueira\}, \{Jos{\'e} Alejandro\} and Andr{\'e}s Ram{\'i}rez and \{Espinosa de los Monteros\}, \{Mar{\'i}a Alejandra\} and \{Valdevila Santiesteban\}, Roc{\'i}o and \{Carvajal Parra\}, \{Indira Dayana\} and \{Romero Sacoto\}, Lilia and \{Pico Cucal{\'o}n\}, \{Mar{\'i}a Jos{\'e}\}",

note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} The Author(s) 2025. This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/) which permits non-commercial use, reproduction and distribution of the work without further permission provided the original work is attributed as specified on the SAGE and Open Access page (https://us.sagepub.com/en-us/nam/open-access-at-sage).",

year = "2025",

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day = "1",

doi = "10.1177/25424823251386276",

language = "English",

volume = "9",

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T1 - Psychometric evaluation of the Alzheimer's Disease Knowledge Scale in Ecuadorian university students

AU - Valdevila Figueira, José Alejandro

AU - Ramírez, Andrés

AU - Espinosa de los Monteros, María Alejandra

AU - Valdevila Santiesteban, Rocío

AU - Carvajal Parra, Indira Dayana

AU - Romero Sacoto, Lilia

AU - Pico Cucalón, María José

N1 - Publisher Copyright: © The Author(s) 2025. This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/) which permits non-commercial use, reproduction and distribution of the work without further permission provided the original work is attributed as specified on the SAGE and Open Access page (https://us.sagepub.com/en-us/nam/open-access-at-sage).

PY - 2025/1/1

Y1 - 2025/1/1

N2 - Background: Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the leading cause of dementia worldwide, with rising prevalence, high costs, and significant impact in Ecuador. Awareness and validated tools like the Alzheimer's Disease Knowledge Scale (ADKS) are crucial to improve training and early care. Objective: To evaluate the reliability and factorial structure of the ADKS in Ecuadorian university students enrolled in health science programs. Methods: A total of 1089 students completed the ADKS. Internal consistency was assessed using Cronbach's alpha and McDonald's omega coefficients. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was conducted using a Diagonally Weighted Least Squares (DWLS) estimator to evaluate the scale's structure. Results: The ADKS demonstrated acceptable internal consistency (α = 0.767, ω = 0.770). CFA supported the original one-factor model with strong fit indices (RMSEA = 0.047, SRMR = 0.012, CFI = 0.987, TLI = 0.973, RNI = 0.987, NFI = 0.986, RFI = 0.972, IFI = 0.987). These results confirm the scale's internal validity in this population. Conclusions: The ADKS is a reliable and valid instrument for assessing knowledge of Alzheimer's disease among Ecuadorian university students. Its use is recommended for both clinical training and public health education strategies focused on dementia awareness.

AB - Background: Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the leading cause of dementia worldwide, with rising prevalence, high costs, and significant impact in Ecuador. Awareness and validated tools like the Alzheimer's Disease Knowledge Scale (ADKS) are crucial to improve training and early care. Objective: To evaluate the reliability and factorial structure of the ADKS in Ecuadorian university students enrolled in health science programs. Methods: A total of 1089 students completed the ADKS. Internal consistency was assessed using Cronbach's alpha and McDonald's omega coefficients. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was conducted using a Diagonally Weighted Least Squares (DWLS) estimator to evaluate the scale's structure. Results: The ADKS demonstrated acceptable internal consistency (α = 0.767, ω = 0.770). CFA supported the original one-factor model with strong fit indices (RMSEA = 0.047, SRMR = 0.012, CFI = 0.987, TLI = 0.973, RNI = 0.987, NFI = 0.986, RFI = 0.972, IFI = 0.987). These results confirm the scale's internal validity in this population. Conclusions: The ADKS is a reliable and valid instrument for assessing knowledge of Alzheimer's disease among Ecuadorian university students. Its use is recommended for both clinical training and public health education strategies focused on dementia awareness.

KW - Alzheimer's Disease Knowledge Scale (ADKS)

KW - Alzheimer’s disease

KW - dementia

KW - knowledge

KW - psychometrics

KW - surveys and questionnaires

KW - university students

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105031057354

U2 - 10.1177/25424823251386276

DO - 10.1177/25424823251386276

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:105031057354

SN - 2542-4823

VL - 9

JO - Journal of Alzheimer's Disease Reports

JF - Journal of Alzheimer's Disease Reports

ER -

Psychometric evaluation of the Alzheimer's Disease Knowledge Scale in Ecuadorian university students

Abstract

Bibliographical note

UN SDGs

Keywords

Access to Document

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