Lang J, Jeschke S, Herziger B, Müller RM, Bertsche T, Neininger MP, Bertsche A. Prejudices against people with epilepsy as perceived by affected people and their families.
Epilepsy Behav 2022;
127:108535. [PMID:
35026561 DOI:
10.1016/j.yebeh.2021.108535]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2021] [Revised: 12/27/2021] [Accepted: 12/27/2021] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
PROBLEM
Prejudices can impair social participation of people with epilepsy.
METHODS
From 2019 to 2020, we invited people with epilepsy and their relatives across Germany to fill in a questionnaire.
RESULTS
Two hundred and thirty people with epilepsy (PWE, median age: 40 years; min./max.: 19/83; 66% female) and 103 relatives (REL, median age: 42 years; min./max. 23/70; 83% female) took part in the survey. 44% PWE and 40% REL said prejudices against PWE had not declined in recent years. Of PWE, 64% reported they had experienced prejudices themselves. In an open question with multiple answers possible, 71% of the PWE described concrete prejudices against PWE, 62% of the REL did so. The reported prejudices concerned symptoms of epilepsy (37% PWE; 23% REL), academic or occupational performance (47% PWE; 38% REL), social or family life (27% PWE, 29% REL), and other topics (7% PWE, 4% REL). Of PWE, 88% said all or almost all relatives knew about their condition, 74% stated this applied to all or almost all friends, and 48% told all or almost all colleagues about their epilepsy. Of PWE, 94% would want to know if a relative had epilepsy, 87% would like to know about a friend's epilepsy, 70% about a colleague's epilepsy. Fear of stigmatization was a reason for not always communicating the condition according to 20% PWE and 63% REL. None of PWE and 16% of REL named shame as a reason.
CONCLUSION
People with epilepsy still experience prejudices and fear of stigmatization hinders an open communication about the condition.
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