Education Research: Online Alzheimer education for high school and college students: A randomized controlled trial.

Nabeel Saif, Kellyann Niotis, Moises Dominguez, John F Hodes, Michael Woodbury, Yasmin Amini, George Sadek, Olivia Scheyer, Emily Caesar, Hollie Hristov, Newman Knowlton, Paige Lee, Mark McInnis, Richard S Isaacson

Journal: Neurology 2020;95(16):e2305-e2313

PMID: 32665410

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Abstract

OBJECTIVE

Alzheimer disease (AD) risk factors are present throughout the lifespan. This randomized controlled trial evaluated the effectiveness of various online education strategies concerning AD risk reduction and brain health in younger populations.

METHOD

High school and college students were recruited via social media (Facebook and Instagram) to join AlzU.org, an evidence-based education portal, and were randomized to 1 of 4 courses: highly interactive webinar lessons narrated by actor Seth Rogen (celebrity webinar) or a physician (doctor webinar), minimally interactive video lessons with Seth Rogen (celebrity video), or minimally interactive video lessons (control). Surveys were administered at baseline and postcourse. The primary outcome was change in knowledge of AD risk reduction assessed by pre vs post lesson quiz scores. Secondary outcomes included change in awareness of AD research, hopefulness about AD, interest in pursuing health care, willingness to volunteer, and likelihood of recommending AlzU.org.

RESULT

A total of 721 participants joined. A total of 281 (38.9%) completed the course. Among college students, quiz score improvements were greater in celebrity webinar and celebrity video vs doctor webinar and control. Among high school students, no differences were found in quiz scores. In both groups, celebrity webinar, celebrity video, and doctor webinar resulted in greater improvements in awareness that nutrition and exercise may reduce AD risk vs controls. Among college students, celebrity webinar and celebrity video group participants felt more hopeful about the future of AD and more likely to recommend AlzU.org vs doctor webinar and control participants. Among college students, celebrity webinar, celebrity video, and doctor webinar participants were more willing to volunteer for AD causes and pursue health care careers vs controls.

CONCLUSION

Online education involving a celebrity may be an effective strategy for educating college students about AD risk reduction strategies. Further studies are warranted in high school students.

Address: From the Department of Neurology (N.S., K.N., M.D., G.S., H.H., M.M., R.S.I.), Weill Cornell Medicine & New York-Presbyterian, New York; Pacific Brain Health Center (J.F.H.), Pacific Neuroscience Institute, Los Angeles, CA; Harvard Medical School (M.W.), Boston, MA; Mailman School of Public Health (Y.A.), Columbia University, New York, NY; School of Law (O.S.) and College of Letters and Science (P.L.), University of California Los Angeles; Loyola School of Medicine (E.C.), Chicago, IL; and Biostatistics (N.K.), Pentara Corporation, Salt Lake City, UT.; From the Department of Neurology (N.S., K.N., M.D., G.S., H.H., M.M., R.S.I.), Weill Cornell Medicine & New York-Presbyterian, New York; Pacific Brain Health Center (J.F.H.), Pacific Neuroscience Institute, Los Angeles, CA; Harvard Medical School (M.W.), Boston, MA; Mailman School of Public Health (Y.A.), Columbia University, New York, NY; School of Law (O.S.) and College of Letters and Science (P.L.), University of California Los Angeles; Loyola School of Medicine (E.C.), Chicago, IL; and Biostatistics (N.K.), Pentara Corporation, Salt Lake City, UT. [email protected].

DOI: 10.1212/WNL.0000000000009859

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MeSH Terms: Adolescent, Adult, Alzheimer Disease, Education, Distance, Famous Persons, Female, Health Education, Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice, Health Promotion, Humans, Internet, Male, Risk Reduction Behavior, Students, Young Adult