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Sulena S, Singh G, Tyagi D, Bansal N, Padda P, Garg R, Kumar R, Kaur K, Kaur H, Kumar N. Epilepsy Smart Schools: Educational intervention improves knowledge, attitude, and practices regarding epilepsy among school teachers. Epilepsy Behav 2023; 141:109138. [PMID: 36871320 DOI: 10.1016/j.yebeh.2023.109138] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2022] [Revised: 02/04/2023] [Accepted: 02/05/2023] [Indexed: 03/07/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Discrimination and stigma associated with epilepsy in schools impact the academic and mental aptitude of children with epilepsy. Teachers pre-sensitized to seizures exhibit a positive attitude along with better knowledge about epilepsy. The aim was to assess the impact of an interactive one-day educational workshop regarding epilepsy on the prevalent knowledge, attitude, and practices toward epilepsy among school teachers. METHODS Conducted in December 2021 in a tertiary care teaching hospital of rural background in Northern India, this cross-sectional study included school teachers from government schools of Faridkot district of Punjab. The intervention consisted of a one-day interactive workshop on epilepsy and school health consisting of 100 minutes of lectures (4 lectures each of 25 minutes), 60 minutes of role plays, and 20 minutes of active discussion with participants (5 minutes after each session). The lectures were prepared using World Health Organization's Mental Health Gap (WHO's mhGAP) guidelines and elucidated knowledge regarding epilepsy and skills to provide first aid to seizures. School teachers were assessed on a pre and post-test structured questionnaire to assess their knowledge of, attitude, and practices regarding epilepsy before and immediately after the intervention. RESULTS Two hundred and thirty teachers participated and the majority were from government primary schools, mean age was 43 ± 7 years and females (n = 121,53%) outnumbered males. Commonly reported sources of information regarding epilepsy by school teachers were family and friends (n = 91,40%) followed by social (n = 82, 36%) and public media (n = 81,35%), and the least common were doctors (n = 56,24%) and healthcare workers (n = 29, 13%). Fifty-six percent (n = 129) had witnessed seizures in either a stranger(n = 84,37%), family, or friend (n = 31,13%) and student of their class(n = 14,6%). Post-educational intervention, significant improvement was seen in the knowledge of and attitude regarding epilepsy including recognizing subtle features of epilepsy like blank stare (pre/post = 5/34) and transient change in behavior (pre/post = 16/32), non-contagiousness of epilepsy (pre/post = 158/187)and belief that children with epilepsy have normal intelligence (pre/post = 161/191) and a significant decrease in a number of teachers who thought that they need more time and attention in class (pre/post = 181/131). Post-educational sessions, significantly more number of teachers would allow children with epilepsy in their classroom (pre/post = 203/227), follow correct ways to provide first aid for seizures, and would allow their participation in all extracurricular activities even in high-risk outdoor games like swimming (pre/post = 4/36) and deep sea diving (pre/post = 7/18). CONCLUSION The educational intervention had a positive impact on the knowledge, practices, and attitude regarding epilepsy but had a few, unexpected reverse effects as well. A single workshop may not be aptly adequate to provide accurate information regarding epilepsy. Sustained efforts in this direction are needed at the national and global level to develop the concept of "Epilepsy Smart Schools".
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Affiliation(s)
- Sulena Sulena
- Division of Neurology, Guru Gobind Singh Medical College, Faridkot, India.
| | - Gagandeep Singh
- Department of Neurology, Dayanand Medical College, Ludhiana, India
| | - Divesh Tyagi
- Division of Neurology, Guru Gobind Singh Medical College, Faridkot, India
| | - Namita Bansal
- Department of Neurology, Dayanand Medical College, Ludhiana, India
| | - Preeti Padda
- Department of Community Medicine, Government Medical College, Amritsar, India
| | - Ravinder Garg
- Department of Medicine, Guru Gobind Singh Medical College, Faridkot, India
| | | | - Kiranjeet Kaur
- Division of Neurology, Guru Gobind Singh Medical College, Faridkot, India
| | - Harmandeep Kaur
- Division of Neurology, Guru Gobind Singh Medical College, Faridkot, India
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Clifford LM, Brothers SL, Lang A. Self-Disclosure Patterns Among Children and Youth with Epilepsy: Impact of Perceived-Stigma. Adolesc Health Med Ther 2023; 14:27-43. [PMID: 36776152 PMCID: PMC9910097 DOI: 10.2147/ahmt.s336124] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2022] [Accepted: 01/19/2023] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
This review aimed to synthesize the minimal existing literature on the impact of perceived stigma on self-disclosure patterns among children and youth with epilepsy (YWE). Initial literature searches were conducted in PsycInfo, Scopus, Web of Science, and PubMed using search terms focused on epilepsy, pediatrics, disclosure, and/or stigma. Articles were included if they were original human research articles published in peer-reviewed journals that were accessible in English through Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center Pratt Library and fit study aims. Thirteen articles, which primarily used qualitative self-report methodologies, fit the study's inclusion criteria. YWE report greater perceived stigma and lower illness disclosure compared to youth with other chronic health conditions. Across studies, perceived stigma was consistently identified as a barrier to YWE disclosing their epilepsy diagnosis. Consequences of perceived stigma included lower self-esteem, poorer perceived competency, lack of self-confidence, social withdrawal, and lower quality of life. YWE's reluctance to disclose epilepsy was associated with worry about differential treatment, negative impact on close relationships, negative impact on others' perceptions, and negative self-perceptions. While WHO and ILAE have identified stigma as contributing to higher disease burden in people with epilepsy and have highlighted the importance of prioritizing social policy focused on decreasing epilepsy-related stigma, progress has been incremental and much work remains. Future research is needed to understand socio-cultural factors perpetuating stigma among YWE in order to further develop, evaluate, and disseminate evidence-based clinical and education programming to combat epilepsy-related stigma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisa M Clifford
- Division of Behavioral Medicine and Clinical Psychology, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA,Correspondence: Lisa M Clifford, Division of Behavioral Medicine and Clinical Psychology, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, 3333 Burnet Ave, MLC 3015, Cincinnati, OH, 45229, USA, Tel +1 513 803 3409, Fax +1 513 636 7756, Email
| | - Shannon L Brothers
- Division of Behavioral Medicine and Clinical Psychology, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Amy Lang
- Division of Behavioral Medicine and Clinical Psychology, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA
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Ayar D, Ünalp A, Yılmaz Ü, Bektaş M, Karaoğlu P, Akçay E, Yanar S. Psychometric properties of the Turkish version of the Epilepsy Disclosure Scale - Youth and Parent Versions. Epilepsy Behav 2022; 134:108770. [PMID: 35777351 DOI: 10.1016/j.yebeh.2022.108770] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2022] [Revised: 05/24/2022] [Accepted: 05/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
AIM Due to reactions, such as being ridiculed, blamed, or rejected, children with epilepsy and their families may consider epilepsy as something to be ashamed of, and therefore both the child and parents hide the disease from other people. No valid and reliable measurement in Turkish language that evaluates the level of this behavior, which will greatly affect the management of epilepsy, in both children and parents has been found in the literature. This study was carried out to test the validity and reliability of the Epilepsy Disclosure Scale (EDS) - Youth and Parent Versions in Turkey. MATERIALS AND METHOD A descriptive, comparative, correlational, and methodological design was used in the study. The study was carried out with 200 youth with epilepsy between the ages of 8 and 18, who were registered in the pediatric neurology outpatient clinic of a university hospital located in the western region of Turkey, and their parents. The study data were collected using a Descriptive Information Form and the Turkish version of the EDS-Y and the EDS-P. The data were evaluated using content validity index, explanatory and confirmatory factor analyses, Cronbach's alpha, split-half, and item-total score correlation. FINDINGS The total explained variance of the Turkish version of the EDS-Y consisting of one sub-dimension and six items was determined as 53.55%, and the total explained variance of the Turkish version of the EDS-P consisting of one sub-dimension and six items was determined as 59.39%. Cronbach's alpha values were 0.864 for the overall Turkish EDS-Y and 0.881 for the EDS-P. According to the confirmatory factor analysis, the model fit indices of both scales were found to be above 0.90 and the factor loads of all items were greater than 0.40. CONCLUSION The Turkish versions of the EDS-Y and EDS-P scales have acceptable internal consistency reliability and content and construct validity and can be used by health professionals to evaluate the concealment of epilepsy from the perspectives of both young people and parents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dijle Ayar
- Alanya Alaaddin Keykubat University, Faculty of Health Science, Pediatric Nursing Department, Alanya, Turkey.
| | - Aycan Ünalp
- University of Health Sciences Turkey, Izmir Faculty of Medicine, Dr. Behçet Uz Children's Education and Research Hospital, Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Neurology, Izmir, Turkey
| | - Ünsal Yılmaz
- University of Health Sciences Turkey, Izmir Faculty of Medicine, Dr. Behçet Uz Children's Education and Research Hospital, Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Neurology, Izmir, Turkey
| | - Murat Bektaş
- Dokuz Eylul University Faculty of Nursing, Pediatric Nursing Department, Izmir, Turkey
| | - Pakize Karaoğlu
- University of Health Sciences Turkey, Dr. Behçet Uz Children's Education and Research Hospital, Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Neurology, Izmir, Turkey
| | - Ebru Akçay
- Dokuz Eylul University Institute of Health Sciences, Izmir, Turkey
| | - Saliha Yanar
- University of Health Sciences Turkey, Dr. Behçet Uz Children's Education and Research Hospital, Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Neurology, Izmir, Turkey
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Yang L, Ji J, Tang P, Jiang Y, Yang H, Sun X, Yang J, Lu Q. Age and sex differences in social support among children and adolescents with epilepsy. Epilepsy Behav 2022; 130:108680. [PMID: 35413662 DOI: 10.1016/j.yebeh.2022.108680] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2022] [Revised: 03/09/2022] [Accepted: 03/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE This study aimed to explore what differences exist in the perceived frequency of social support and the importance of social support according to age and sex among children and adolescents with epilepsy. METHOD We employed an explorative cross-sectional design to examine a sample of 320 children and adolescents with epilepsy using the child and adolescent social support scale (CASSS). RESULT There is a significant relationship between sex and age and the importance of support from classmates and friends. For the dependent variables that were not affected by the age-sex interaction, we analyzed the main effects of these dependent variables of sex and age separately. We discovered that girls with epilepsy received a higher level of support from their parents and classmates than boys. Besides, compared with adolescents, children with epilepsy consider parental support more valuable. Also, children with epilepsy attach more importance to support from their teachers than adolescents. In contrast, adolescents with epilepsy receive a higher level of support from their friends than children. CONCLUSION Social support varies by age and sex in children and adolescents with epilepsy. Understanding the social support of children with epilepsy at various developmental stages and for different sexes can help provide a healthier environment for children and adolescents to grow up in. The results of this study provide a basis for formulating corresponding intervention programs for children and adolescents with epilepsy according to age and sex.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liling Yang
- School of Nursing, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, No. 227 Chongqing South Road, Shanghai, China
| | - Jianlin Ji
- School of Nursing, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, No. 227 Chongqing South Road, Shanghai, China
| | - Ping Tang
- Emergency Outpatient Clinic, Children's Hospital of Shanghai, No. 355 Luding Road, Shanghai, China
| | - Yan Jiang
- Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Children's Hospital of Shanghai, No. 355 Luding Road, Shanghai, China
| | - Hanlin Yang
- School of Nursing, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, No. 227 Chongqing South Road, Shanghai, China
| | - Xiaomin Sun
- Department of Neurology, Children's Hospital of Shanghai, No. 355 Luding Road, Shanghai, China
| | - Jie Yang
- Department of Neurology, Children's Hospital of Shanghai, No. 1400 West Beijing Road, Shanghai, China
| | - Qunfeng Lu
- Nursing Department, Children's Hospital of Shanghai, No. 355 Luding Road, Shanghai, China.
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Rahmani M, Muzwagi A, Pumariega AJ. Cultural Factors in Disaster Response Among Diverse Children and Youth Around the World. Curr Psychiatry Rep 2022; 24:481-491. [PMID: 35953637 PMCID: PMC9371955 DOI: 10.1007/s11920-022-01356-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/28/2022] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW Disasters and traumatic events are ever present globally but disproportionally impact culturally diverse low resource environments. Culture is an important context through which people experience disasters, develop adaptive strategies, and process external aid and support. This is even more critical for children and youth who are in the process of forming their cultural/ethnic identities. This review identifies literature on these important aspects of culture in disaster response. RECENT FINDINGS The literature supports that culture influences the experience of disasters, the development of coping and adaptational approaches, and the acceptability of external aid and support, especially mental health services. Cultural humility, awareness, and sensitivity are crucial in addressing the traumatic impact of disasters in children and youth, especially in the areas of the world that are most at risk for them.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mariam Rahmani
- Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry, University of Florida College of Medicine, Springhill 2 Building, 4197 NW 86th Terrace, Gainesville, FL, 32606, USA.
| | - Ashraf Muzwagi
- Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry, University of Florida College of Medicine, Springhill 2 Building, 4197 NW 86th Terrace, Gainesville, FL 32606 USA
| | - Andres J. Pumariega
- Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry, University of Florida College of Medicine, Springhill 2 Building, 4197 NW 86th Terrace, Gainesville, FL 32606 USA
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