NERS NEWS — Professional Nursing students from the Faculty of Nursing, Universitas Airlangga, successfully conducted a Hospital Health Promotion (PKRS) program themed “Understanding Dementia.” The educational campaign was held in the outpatient clinic waiting area of Menur Psychiatric Hospital, Surabaya, on Monday, June 22, 2026. This initiative aimed to elevate public awareness regarding dementia, its clinical signs and symptoms, and the vital role of early screening in safeguarding cognitive health.
Dementia is a clinical syndrome characterized by a progressive decline in cognitive functions, including memory impairment, reasoning deficits, and a diminished capacity to perform activities of daily living (ADLs). Through this community outreach, the professional nursing students delivered comprehensive education covering the definition of dementia, its predisposing risk factors, early warning signs, and proactive strategies to maintain optimal cognitive performance.
The session engaged 10 outpatients and family members waiting in the clinic area. Throughout the presentation, the participants demonstrated high enthusiasm, paying close attention to the speakers and actively participating in the interactive Q&A session. Various inquiries were raised by the audience, notably regarding the common habit of misplacing items and its potential link to dementia. Through this diagnostic discussion, the participants gained a clearer clinical understanding of differentiating normal, age-related forgetfulness from red flag symptoms that necessitate professional medical evaluation.
To reinforce the direct presentations, the student team distributed visual educational media, including informative leaflets and posters, to facilitate easier comprehension. The utilization of these structural resources is expected to enhance long-term information retention among participants and raise broader public vigilance toward neurological and brain health from an early stage.
This PKRS framework represents a concrete promotive and preventive effort by nursing students to accelerate public health literacy. Through continuous, evidence-based education, it is envisioned that the community can accurately identify early cognitive decline, comprehend the variables affecting metabolic brain health, and implement sound preventive choices to optimize overall quality of life.
This initiative also directly supports the realization of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), specifically:
- SDG 3: Good Health and Well-Being: Elevating public health outcomes and mental well-being through targeted cognitive literacy.
- SDG 4: Quality Education: Implementing community-based, high-quality health promotion as part of practical nursing education.
Author: Ahmad Zubair
Editor: Farah Dina Azizatul Aulia (Airlangga Nursing Journalist)
