Most adults with childhood-onset epilepsy and their parents have incorrect knowledge of the cause 20-30 years later: a population-based study

Rare, epilepsy-related disorder including intellectual disability - A scoping review of caregivers' identified information needs

AIMS

The aims of this review were: (1) to obtain an overview of caregiver-reported information needs; and (2) to investigate if there are information needs that are unique for caregivers of persons with rare epilepsies.

METHOD

We followed the scoping review framework outlined by Arksey and O'Malley and the preferred reporting items outlined by PRISMA.

RESULTS

Among the 17 articles that met the inclusion criteria, 5 included caregivers of persons with rare epilepsies. Categories of information needs: (1) Medical information; (2) Information on how to cope with emotional distress; (3) Experiential information from peers; and (4) Interdisciplinary information exchange. The need for disorder-specific information seemed particularly important for caregivers of persons with rare epilepsies.

CONCLUSION

There is a need for further studies, particularly on formal caregivers' information needs.

Parental knowledge and attitudes towards epilepsy -A study from Jordan

PURPOSE

To explore the knowledge, attitudes and behaviors of parents whose children were diagnosed with epilepsy.

METHODS

Cross-sectional questionnaire based study of parents who accompanied their children with epilepsy to the child neurology clinics at three university hospitals in Jordan.

RESULTS

Most parents (427, 90.3%) knew that epilepsy is not related to a psychiatric disease. Approximately half of the parents (245, 51.8%) used the internet as their source of knowledge, and most used Arabic websites. Searching the word epilepsy was rarely used (51, 10.8%). Most of the parents (428,90.5%) were not restricting their children from watching TV or from using the computer (358,75.5%).However, many parents (280,59.2%) were restricting them from participating in sports. Parents had negative attitudes towards epilepsy; 189 (40.0%)thought that epileptic children can have normal intelligence, and 292 (61.7%) thought that they can continue into higher education. Greater parental knowledge of epilepsy was found to be correlated with the parental education level (p<0.05).Positive attitudes and behaviors towards epilepsy were found to be correlated with a higher parental education level, control of epilepsy,an absence of associated co morbidities, a higher income and internet use (p<0.05).

CONCLUSION

This study sheds an important light on the current knowledge status and attitudes of parents of children with epilepsy, and is an invaluable tool for tailoring the delivery of information and support resources for families in our region.

The efficacy of an educational program for parents of children with epilepsy (FAMOSES): Results of a controlled multicenter evaluation study

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of the educational program FAMOSES (modular service package epilepsy for families) for parents of children with epilepsy.

METHOD

Parents of children with epilepsy from Germany and Austria were included in a controlled prospective multicenter study using a pre-post design. Participants of the FAMOSES program (FAMOSES group, n=148) completed a standardized questionnaire immediately before the program and six months later. The matched control group of parents not participating in the program (n=74, matching ratio 2:1) also answered the questionnaire twice, at an interval of six months. The questionnaire comprised epilepsy-specific outcome measures (e.g., knowledge, coping, fears) and disease-related variables (e.g., seizure frequency). The generalized estimation equation approach was used for statistical analysis. In addition, parents' satisfaction with the FAMOSES program was assessed six months after participation.

RESULTS

Parents of the FAMOSES group significantly improved in epilepsy-specific knowledge (group×time interaction: p<.001), coping (p<.01), epilepsy-related fears (p<.05), and in speaking about epilepsy with their child (p<.05) compared with the control group. No effects were found on disease-related variables. Nearly all of the participants rated the FAMOSES parents' program as "very good" (71%) or "good" (27%).

CONCLUSION

The efficacy of the FAMOSES parents' program was confirmed. The results indicate that imparting knowledge and the interactive approach help parents in coping with their child's epilepsy and reduce epilepsy-related fears.

Parental Understanding of Tuberous Sclerosis Complex

Tuberous sclerosis complex is a genetic disorder with multisystem involvement that poses significant challenges to the affected child and family. Caregiver knowledge in the South African population has not previously been reported. A prospective study of the parents of 21 children with tuberous sclerosis complex was undertaken. Median parental age was 38 (interquartile range 34.5-45) years. Parents were randomly allocated to receive written information about the condition, or to receive verbal counseling already established in clinic. A significant difference (P = .001) was observed in the change in the mean knowledge scores for the parent group that received written information (34.2 at baseline, 51.7 at the second visit. This impact was higher in parents with an education level of at least grade 8 (P = .003). Parental understanding of tuberous sclerosis complex can be improved by provision of written information and should be routinely available in a readily understandable format.