Grant Proposal- Peer Review

Running Head: ALZHEIMER DISEASE (AD) 1

Misperception and Representation of People with Alzheimer Disease

Janine Vereen

Ashford University

Professor Irene Nielsen

May 14, 2018

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ALZHEIMER DISEASE 2

Misperception and Representation of People with Alzheimer Disease

Specific Aims

It is common knowledge that most of the people with Alzheimer disease have been

misunderstood and continually misrepresented in the society all over the world. This has been

the phenomenon since neuropsychologist discovered the disease in more than a century ago.

Misrepresentation and misperception of people living with Alzheimer's disease (AD) have not

just sent the patients to isolation but it has also contributed to the fewer acceptances of the people

with the mental disorder. most of the people with the disorder have been dismissed from their

workplace and discriminated against in most social places by the people who have low

knowledge on the disorder as most of them whose mental fitness are yet to be discovered have

been deemed misfit in the society and condemned to their houses and homes (Alzheimer's

Association. 2013). Most of the developed nations have developed frameworks which have been

used to detect this neurodegenerative disease which start as a normal disease and worsen the

condition of the patient when it becomes chronic. However, this is not the case among most of

the developing nations and even the structures in the developed nations are not sufficient which

has made most of the people not to have sufficient knowledge on the cause, symptoms, and

diagnosis of the mental illness. most of the people with Alzheimer's, usually become withdraw as

most of the people in the society discriminate and stigmatize against them through

misrepresentation and perceiving them in a wrong perspective. The study will seek to bring at an

end the experience that people with Alzheimer face when they are misunderstood and

misperceived in the society and develop health programs that can be used to eliminate the

phenomenon.

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1

2

3

1. world.

citation needeed [Irene

Nielsen]

2. sufficient

citations needed. [Irene

Nielsen]

3. phenomenon.

eliminate what phenomena?

Are you talking about AD or

the social injustices? State

your thesis for this paper.

[Irene Nielsen]

ALZHEIMER DISEASE 3

Background to the Study

Studies have revealed that 60-70% of dementia is as a result of Alzheimer and the most

common symptom of the disease is short-term memory loss which makes the patients not to

remember events that took place recently. however, the symptoms and effects of the disease

increase as the mental illness become more chronic and other symptoms may include and not

limited to problems with language, disorientation which result to the patient getting lost, develop

mood swings, lack self-care among other (Fratiglioni et al, 2009). The end of it is that the

patients isolate and withdraw from the society. The fact that most of the patient loses their body

functions and eventually dies has been a reason why most of the people in the society have

distanced themselves with people with Alzheimer disease. The understanding of the disease is

that one will have a life expectancy of fewer than nine years has also been an issue as it has

caused much harm to the patients and the patients' families (Herrmann et al, 2017). It is because

of the effects that result from misunderstanding, discrimination, stigmatizing of these group of

small interests that it has merited this study proposal. It should be understood that the social

phenomenon directed at these people result to labeling, stereotyping among other social

problems, which affect the families of the patients more so children of the patients. It is very

clear from the study by (Susan, 2012) that it becomes very difficult to deal with the stress

resulting from withdrawal, discrimination, misrepresentation, and misperception of these

patients. It is there for important that people with the mental disorder should not be subjected to

stress since it only adds to the psychological problems already torturing them.

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1

2

3

4

5

1. and

Expand and explain the

neuro-biology with

documentation. [Irene

Nielsen]

2. loses

ck word [Irene Nielsen]

3. a reason why most of the

people

correct this convoluted

sentence. [Irene Nielsen]

4. proposal.

Explain what is this study

proposal? [Irene Nielsen]

5. psychological

How do you differentiate good

stress that builds

neuroplasticity and harmful,

chronic stress that is neuro-

toxic? Explain. [Irene

Nielsen]

ALZHEIMER DISEASE 4

The significance of the Study

One of something that has caused misrepresentation and stigmatization among the people

with Alzheimer's disease is lack of understanding of the illness. About 70% of the risk of the

illness is associated to a genetic cause; others believe that it is caused by the history of head

injury, hypertension, and depression (Chandra et al, 2001). Other relates the disease to plagues

and tangles in the brain of the patients. The myths surrounding the cause of the disease has been

the major reasons that have contributed to misperception and misrepresentation of the patients

with the disease resulting to stigmatization and discrimination of the patients as people in the

society have less knowledge on the illness (Werner, & Hess, 2016). It was important that a study

proposal is done to create more knowledge on the cause, symptoms, and diagnosis of the

Alzheimer disease so as to reduce the cases of stigmatization and discrimination that result from

lack of information and knowledge on the illness. Understanding the cause and symptoms related

to the disease will help to develop a program that will help to reduce the psychological problems

and other health-related issues that face this special group of people (Evans et al, 2009). The

additional findings from the study will also help to educate the family and the community on

how they can deal with people with the mental problem so that are not stigmatized and

misperceived in the society. It is important that the society is educated about their role to help the

people living with Alzheimer's disease in the society that they can help them live a long and

healthy life.

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ALZHEIMER DISEASE 5

Proposed Study

Participants:

The proposed study will target hospitals, research centers, clinics, and community groups

that deal with people with Alzheimer’s disease in the area. The study participants will be male

and female who will be selected in the ratio of 45-55 respectively given that women are likely to

be more of volunteers and nurses or rather medical practitioners in these identified centers. All

the study participants should be of sound mind and will be aged between 18-50 years cutting

across all continents, and social statuses.

Procedures:

For every long time, scientific research has employed different research technique to

collect data and get more insight of the data that was collected something that is contrary to other

sampling methods. The best-known technique that has been used in the past is the snowball

technique (Casado et al, 2017). The study will be aimed at collecting primary data which will be

used to generate findings and it is because of this that deep face-to-face interviews will be used

to collect the data in the study. The questions that will be used will be open-ended. It is important

to use open-ended questions in this study as they will allow the researcher develop a question

that will be used in probing. The interviews are designed to last for 30-40 minutes and it will be

repeated until saturation is reached. The target sample in the study will be 107 participants all

selected randomly.

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1. questions

Are you proposing a

qualitative method? [Irene

Nielsen]

ALZHEIMER DISEASE 6

Hypothesis and Analysis:

The primary data from the interviews will be coded in the computer system using the

available data collecting supplications and software. Coding is important to studies as they help

to separate the most relevant interview texts that are important to the study findings as compared

to others. The data collected in this study will be qualitative applications which can be done

through structural coding (Abojabel, & Werner, 2016). This is done in a clear way depending on

the number of the participants involved, for instance, varying code occurrences could be

determined with an aim to help in identifying the ideas commonly seen in many of the

participants distinguishing them from those that are seldom mentioned to a group of respondents.

Budget Justification

Direct Costs:

Personnel:

To ensure the study is conducted in a professional manner, special and qualified research

helper will be hired and is expected to work for 3 hours daily from Monday-Saturday for 12

months and will be paid USD$24 per hour. The total allocation to the specialized researcher will

be USD$23040 since he will work for 48 weeks only. The specialized will be charged with the

task of overseeing what takes place daily.

Another specialist who will investigate the study at an interval of 12 weeks to ensure that

the progress is fine will be paid USD$215 per interval of 12 weeks which will add up to

USD$860 to complete the proposal.

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1

1. data

Use the template I required.

See it under announcements.

What is your research

question? What is your

hypothesis? What are your

variables? How does the

social phenomena relate to

neuropsychology? Where is

your summary conclusion?

See my announcements for

guidance. [Irene Nielsen]

ALZHEIMER DISEASE 7

Equipment:

The research will require two laptops one for each specialized professional to ensure that

data is shared constantly as it is collected. Two Smartphone, a video camera, online video editing

software, pens, books, and files.

2 laptops @ $1800 = $3600

2 Smartphone @ 70 = $140

Video camera $1000

Video editing software $300

1 packet of pens $30

A dozen of files $20

Travel Expenses:

Traveling expenses will be incurred when traveling to meet the potential study

participants and the total cost has been estimated at $16000 since distance will vary.

Participant Support

Participants will be reimbursed each $100 as a token of appreciation for participation

summing up to $10700.

Miscellaneous Expenses

$1500 will be allocated for photocopying, phone bills, and postage.

Indirect Costs:

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ALZHEIMER DISEASE 8

Total Costs = 57190

Indirect Cost = 57190*0.37 = $21160.3

References

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ALZHEIMER DISEASE 9

Abojabel, H., & Werner, P. (2016). Exploring family stigma among caregivers of persons with

Alzheimer's disease: The experiences of Israeli-Arab caregivers. Dementia,

1471301216673920.

Alzheimer's Association. (2013). 2013 Alzheimer's disease facts and figures. Alzheimer's &

Dementia, 9(2), 208-245.

BMC Health Serv Res. 2017; 17: 125. Published online 2017 Feb 10.

BMC Med Ethics. 2013; 14(Suppl 1): S6. Published online 2013 Dec 19.

Casado, B. L., Hong, M., & Lee, S. E. (2017). Attitudes Toward Alzheimer’s Care-Seeking

Among Korean Americans: Effects of Knowledge, Stigma, and Subjective Norm. The

Gerontologist, gnw253.

Chandra, V., Pandav, R., Dodge, H. H., Johnston, J. M., Belle, S. H., DeKosky, S. T., & Ganguli,

M. (2001). The incidence of Alzheimer's disease in a rural community in India The Indo–

US Study. Neurology, 57(6), 985-989.

Evans, D. A., Funkenstein, H. H., Albert, M. S., Scherr, P. A., Cook, N. R., Chown, M. J., ... &

Taylor, J. O. (2009). Prevalence of Alzheimer's disease in a community population of

older persons: higher than previously reported. Jama, 262(18), 2551-2556.

Fratiglioni, L., Grant, M., Forsell, Y., Viitanen, M., Grafström, M., Holmen, K., ... & Winblad,

B. (2000). Prevalence of Alzheimer's disease and other dementias in an elderly urban

population Relationship with age, sex, and education. Neurology, 41(12), 1886-1886.

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ALZHEIMER DISEASE 10

Harris, P. B., & Caporella, C. A. (2014). An intergenerational choir formed to lessen

Alzheimer’s disease stigma in college students and decrease the social isolation of people

with Alzheimer’s disease and their family members: A pilot study. American Journal of

Alzheimer's Disease & Other Dementias®, 29(3), 270-281.

Herrmann, L. K., Welter, E., Leverenz, J., Lerner, A. J., Udelson, N., Kanetsky, C., & Sajatovic,

M. (2017). A Systematic Review of Dementia-Related Stigma Research: Can We Move

the Stigma Dial?. The American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry.

Merriam, A. E., Aronson, M. K., Gaston, P., Wey, S. L., & Katz, I. (1988). The psychiatric

symptoms of Alzheimer's disease. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, 36(1), 7-

22.

Reducing Stigma and Discrimination to Improve Child Health and Survival in Low- and Middle-

Income Countries: Promising Approaches and Implications for Future Research.

Sosa-Ortiz, A. L., Acosta-Castillo, I., & Prince, M. J. (2012). Epidemiology of dementia and

Alzheimer's disease. Archives of medical research, 43(8), 600-608.

Vos, S. J., Verhey, F., Frölich, L., Kornhuber, J., Wiltfang, J., Maier, W., ... & Frisoni, G. B.

(2015). Prevalence and prognosis of Alzheimer’s disease at the mild cognitive

impairment stage. Brain, 138(5), 1327-1338.

Werner, P., & Hess, A. (2016). Examining courtesy stigma among foreign healthcare workers

caring for persons with Alzheimer's disease: A focus group study. Home health care

services quarterly, 35(2), 69-85.

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