The Italian Aphasia Awareness Survey (IAAS): an online questionnaire about the public knowledge of aphasia in Italy, informative findings

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.

KEYWORDS:

• Aphasia
• survey
• public awareness
• public knowledge
• Italy

Acknowledgments

We are grateful to the people with aphasia who contributed to this study with their personal experience and suggestions during meetings and conversation groups in Milan (IT). We would also like to thank the Italian Aphasia Association A.IT.A. for moral support and help in disseminating the survey. Finally, we thank Michelle van der Schoot for the linguistic supervision.

Disclosure statement

The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of this article.

Additional information

Funding

No financial or material support was received for the present study.