Evidence map›Paper›PMID 37990313›Full record

ArticleBMC public health2023

Attitudes toward dementia and cognitive aging among Syrian refugees resettled in Jordan: a qualitative study.

Lana Bridi, Dahlia A Kaki, Rawnaq Behnam, Xara Khan, Behnan Albahsahli, Nissma Bencheikh, Raghad Aljenabi, Nargis Ahmadi, Rana Dajani, Tala Al-Rousan

Open access · goldAbstract read
In one paragraph

Article in BMC public health, 2023. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
4citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
2.5field-weighted citation impact, top 11% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

4 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it, 8 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Article
  3. Article
  4. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

10 authors at 3 institutions in 2 countries.

Lana BridiSchool of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, San Diego, CA, USA.
Dahlia A KakiHerbert Wertheim School of Public Health and Human Longevity Science, University of California, San Diego, San Diego, CA, USA.
Rawnaq BehnamHerbert Wertheim School of Public Health and Human Longevity Science, University of California, San Diego, San Diego, CA, USA.
Xara KhanHerbert Wertheim School of Public Health and Human Longevity Science, University of California, San Diego, San Diego, CA, USA.
Behnan AlbahsahliHerbert Wertheim School of Public Health and Human Longevity Science, University of California, San Diego, San Diego, CA, USA.
Nissma BencheikhSchool of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, San Diego, CA, USA.
Raghad AljenabiHerbert Wertheim School of Public Health and Human Longevity Science, University of California, San Diego, San Diego, CA, USA.
Nargis AhmadiHerbert Wertheim School of Public Health and Human Longevity Science, University of California, San Diego, San Diego, CA, USA.
Rana DajaniDepartment of Biology and Biotechnology, The Hashemite University, Zarqa, Jordan.
Tala Al-RousanHerbert Wertheim School of Public Health and Human Longevity Science, University of California, San Diego, San Diego, CA, USA. talrousan@health.ucsd.edu.
Human Longevity (United States) · USUniversity of California, San Diego · USHashemite University · JO

Funding

Blood Pressure Control Advancing Refugee Health Equity (BPCARE): an RCT of adherenceR01HL173155 · NHLBI · UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN DIEGO · PI Tala Al-Rousan · 2025 to 2026
$1.3M
Hypertension Self-management in Refugees Living in San DiegoK23HL148530 · NHLBI · UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN DIEGO · PI AL-ROUSAN, TALA · 2020 to 2024
$882k
NHLBI NIH HHS K23 HL148530NHLBI NIH HHS R01 HL173155
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundMounting evidence is revealing disparities in cognitive function and heightened dementia risk among refugees, yet research in this area remains scant. Despite bearing most of the world's refugee burden, limited-resource countries like Jordan are facing challenges when dealing with refugee health. There is a lack of research on the attitudes toward dementia and the cognitive healthcare gaps among refugees in Jordan.

methods32 older (≥ 55 years) Syrian refugees resettled in Jordan were recruited through a local community-based organization and interviewed in four focus groups (2 female and 2 male groups). Interviews were transcribed and translated, then coded using inductive thematic analysis.

resultsMean age of the sample was 60.1 years and 53.1% were female. Only 34.4% rated their memory as good or excellent. Themes were organized using the socioecological model: 1) At the individual level, participants believed high levels of stress, including low socioeconomic status, poor health, and traumatic history from their refugee experience increased their dementia risk. 2) Interpersonally, there is a fear of dementia due to the possible impact and burden on loved ones, particularly with the stigma surrounding dementia. 3) At the community level, participants noted that resettlement in Jordan - with a shared language, religion, and culture - offered protective effects due to facilitated access to social connection, information, and mental health self-care. 4) At the institution and policy level, participants believed older refugees faced restrictive policies for economic aid, healthcare, and employment, presenting a significant barrier to healthy aging.

conclusionsFindings from this study are the first to examine the attitudes of Syrian refugees in Jordan toward dementia and cognitive aging. These results could provide essential data inclusive of refugees as Jordan develops its National Dementia Plan. Investing in dementia awareness interventions and age-friendly neighborhoods may benefit aging refugees in limited-resources settings.

Indexed as

Cognitive AgingDementiaRefugeesFemaleHumansJordanMaleMiddle AgedSyriaAlzheimer’sDisplacementHealthcareLMICsMiddle EastPreventionSocioecological model

Identifiers

PMID37990313
PMCPMC10664261
OpenAlexW4388879754

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.