Awareness, attitudes toward epilepsy, and first aid knowledge of seizures of hospital staff in Henan, China

Assessment of knowledge towards first aid skills of epilepsy among undergraduate health students in Riyadh province of Saudi Arabia: A cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND

Applying proper first-aid measures to patients with seizure episodes plays a vital role in preventing the adverse consequences of seizures. Most previous data focused on teachers, healthcare providers and the general public. This study aimed to assess the knowledge of seizure first-aid measures among undergraduate health students.

METHODS

This descriptive, cross-sectional study was conducted between May 16 and 31, 2023, with 493 undergraduate health students of Riyadh Province who answered online surveys. The data were collected using the descriptive information form. The chi-square (χ2) test was employed to compare knowledge of seizure first aid between demographic variables. The relationship between knowledge score and independent variables was evaluated using multiple linear regression technique.

RESULTS

Only 1.6 % of participants demonstrated good knowledge scores toward seizure first-aid measures. The skill most frequently reported was to remove all harmful objects from their vicinity and loosen the tight clothes around the neck during a seizure; 68.7 % of the participants correctly answered with agreed. Conversely, the skill that received the lowest knowledge score among participants was putting a piece object such as a cloth, wallet, or spoon between the teeth to prevent tongue biting during a seizure; only 37.3 % of the participants correctly answered with disagree. Moreover, participants in the advanced age group, medicine and fifth-year, were found to be significant predictors of knowledge and exhibited better knowledge scores toward seizure first aid measures than their peers (p < 0.001). Furthermore, lectures and books were identified (69.6 %) as the most common source of information about seizure first aid.

CONCLUSION

The study concluded that most undergraduate health students demonstrated poor knowledge scores in delivering seizure first aid. This finding suggests that introducing epilepsy education from the first year in all health-related courses is crucial to improving overall awareness and skills in providing seizure first aid.

Epilepsy first aid awareness among healthcare workers in Saudi Arabia: A cross-sectional study

Objectives

Epilepsy is a neurological disorder affecting more than 50 million human lives of all ages, its social, physical and psychological implications is of huge concern. The current study and as a continuation of epilepsy knowledge assessment projects conducted by our research team is aimed to assess the knowledge of healthcare workers regarding epilepsy first aid in Saudi Arabia.

Methods

A cross-sectional questionnaire-based study was carried out from 2020 to 2021.

Results

During the study period, 272 healthcare workers were recruited; participants were males and females from different nationalities in various Saudi Arabian cities, possess diverse qualifications, and belong to several healthcare-related professions. The question, "Did you witness an epileptic seizure"? was answered as "Yes" by 42% of participants, and in response to the question "If you know that this patient struggles during seizure attacks," 58% of respondents stated that they would not call an ambulance. Moreover, the question "Put something in his/her mouth to prevent tongue biting" was incorrectly answered as "Yes" by 42% of respondents, and the question "Try to catch him/her and stop his/her movement" in order to control the attack was answered "Yes" by 21% of respondents. Furthermore, almost 90% of healthcare participants do not know how to use the Vagus Nerve Stimulation device. The mean knowledge score among participants was 23.7; sex, as well as type of higher qualification obtained, was found to be significantly associated with the score of knowledge.

Conclusion

Knowledge toward epilepsy and epilepsy first aid among healthcare workers in Saudi Arabia was found fragile. Further research is appreciated to support the current findings.

Awareness, attitudes and first aid knowledge of epilepsy among university students - A cross-sectional study in Henan Province, China

PURPOSE

Epilepsy is a debilitating disease that can lead to series of social and psychological issues, impairing the quality of life of people with epilepsy (PWE). This survey aimed to investigate the awareness, attitudes, and first-aid knowledge of epilepsy in university students METHOD: This cross-sectional study was conducted in Henan Province, China between January 1 and April 30, 2022. Students majored in education, medicine, science and engineering from 8 universities attended the study. The survey questionnaire comprised 28 questions covering 4 sections: demographic characteristics, awareness of epilepsy, attitudes toward PWE and knowledge of first aid for seizures.

RESULTS

A total of 2376 university students completed the questionnaire. 94.7% heard of epilepsy. In the first aid knowledge section, individual question was correctly answered by at least 50% students, 9.3% students correctly answered all questions. Attitude toward PWE was independently (R2 =0.108, F=73.227, p < 0.001) associated with both awareness of epilepsy (B=0.411, p < 0.001) and first aid knowledge of epilepsy (B=0.047, p = 0.001). Among the three majors, medical students had more positive attitudes toward PWE than students majored in education, science and engineering (p < 0.05). However, medical students performed worse among the groups when answering the first aid knowledge questions.

CONCLUSION

This survey showed that university students in Central China had a good awareness of epilepsy. For medical students, improvements are necessary for the awareness of the first aid knowledge for seizure.

Epilepsy knowledge and attitudes: A large observational study among the Palestinian general public

Background

Epileptic seizures are often misunderstood as supernatural power or satanic possession in different cultures around the world. Therefore, people with epilepsy (PWE) suffer discrimination, prejudice, and stigma. The epilepsy knowledge and attitude (EKA) of the Palestinian general public were not assessed before. Therefore, this study assessed the EKA of the Palestinian general public. In addition, the study identified the characteristics that were associated with EKA.

Methods

This was a large cross-sectional study that was conducted using a self-administered instrument. The study participants were invited and recruited from the Palestinian general public. The EKA were assessed using 16 knowledge items and 13 attitude items.

Results

In this study, responses were collected from 746 participants. Knowledge scores were significantly associated with having a university degree, satisfaction with household income, adequate knowledge about epilepsy, having acquaintances with epilepsy, and having witnessed someone experiencing epileptic seizures. Attitude scores were significantly associated with living in urban areas, being married, having a university degree, satisfaction with household income, adequate knowledge about epilepsy, having acquaintances with epilepsy, and having witnessed someone experiencing epileptic seizures.

Conclusion

Large knowledge gaps and negative attitudes toward PWE were identified among the Palestinian general public. These findings might be considered a call to increase knowledge and correct negative attitudes toward PWE. Decision-makers need to design and implement effective measures to increase knowledge and correct negative attitudes toward PWE. Further studies are still needed to assess the effectiveness of these measures in increasing knowledge and positive attitudes toward PWE.

Awareness of Seizure First Aid among the population in Jazan, Saudi Arabia: A survey Study

Background

First aid during a seizure is critical, but many people in Jazan, Saudi Arabia may not know what to do. This is because epilepsy is often stigmatized in the region and regarded as a spiritual or mental disorder. This study investigated the awareness of seizure first aid among the population living in Jazan.

Methods

An online survey was conducted. Healthcare workers and people who had never heard of epilepsy were excluded. Participants were asked to identify correct measures of seizure first aid from a list of 20 statements [9 correct and 11 incorrect]. A composite awareness score was calculated by subtracting the number of incorrect statements from the number of correct statements. Participants were classified into three groups: high, intermediate, and low awareness. Logistic regression was used to identify factors associated with high awareness.

Results

Of the 1215 participants, 80.5 % had low awareness of seizure first aid. The most common correct responses were clearing the area of dangerous objects (91.3 %), putting a pillow under the neck (69.3 %), and timing the seizure (68.5 %). However, only 32.2 % knew to tell the person what happened after the seizure. The most common misconception was that an ambulance should be called immediately, regardless of the details (88.3 %). Other common misconceptions included putting something in the person's mouth (87.5 %), holding them down (83.0 %), taking out their contact lenses (79.9 %), and giving antiseizure medications orally (73.2 %). People who previously watched an educational video on seizure first aid (OR = 4.27, 95 % CI = 1.48-12.34, p = .007) or who knew someone with epilepsy (OR = 9.01, 95 % CI = 2.82-28.83, p < .001) were more likely to have a high awareness of seizure first aid.

Conclusion

The study found that most people in Jazan, Saudi Arabia do not know how to provide first aid for seizures. The findings inform future research and highlight the need for increased education and training on seizure first aid in this region.

Evaluation of the knowledge, awareness, and attitudes toward epilepsy among general practitioners in Eastern China

OBJECTIVE

We aimed to assess the knowledge, awareness, and attitudes toward epilepsy among general practitioners (GPs) from community health service centers (CHCs) in Hangzhou, Eastern China.

METHODS

One hundred twenty three GPs working at CHCs participated in this cross-sectional study in 2022. A custom-built electronic questionnaire, which comprised four domains, including 12 items for general condition data, 10 items for awareness (including first aid), a 16-item scale for attitudes, and 6 items for demographic data, was administered to the GPs. Descriptive statistics, the Mann-Whitney U test, the Kruskal-Wallis H test, and Spearman's rank correlation analysis were used to analyze the non-normal distribution of the data set.

RESULTS

The GPs' average score on the awareness of epilepsy section was 18.14 ± 3.34 (aggregate score: 34), the first aid knowledge of epilepsy section scored 4.89 ± 1.54 (aggregate score: 7), and the epilepsy attitude section scored 62.28 ± 10.15 (aggregate score: 80). Age (r_s = 0.218, P = 0.015), professional title (r_s = 0.215, P = 0.017), and length of service (r_s = 0.240, P = 0.008) correlated significantly with mean awareness of epilepsy scores. Age (r_s = -0.234, P = 0.009) and educational background (r_s = 0.199, P = 0.028) correlated significantly with attitudes toward epilepsy. Furthermore, when GPs faced newly diagnosed people with epilepsy (PWE), a referral was usually recommended (89.43%) and some would give Chinese traditional treatment (13.01%). In addition, the difficulties the GPs encountered in managing included PWE rarely appearing in the community (82.93%), the community lacking corresponding medical equipment (82.11%), and GPs lacking epilepsy-related experience (73.17%).

CONCLUSION

The awareness and attitudes of GPs toward epilepsy in the CHCs were suboptimal. General practitioners age, professional title, length of service, and educational background influenced awareness and attitudes toward PWE. Effective public intervention programs, epilepsy training based on National Guidelines, and referral routes need to improve in China to enhance the care of PWE.

Evaluation of the knowledge, awareness, and attitudes toward epilepsy among nurses

BACKGROUND

The standard of care provided to patients with chronic epilepsy might be affected by clinical nurses' understanding, awareness, and attitudes toward the condition. The objective of this study was to assess the knowledge, awareness, and attitudes toward chronic epilepsy among clinical nurses in the Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine, China.

METHODS

Two hundred and thirty-eight nurses from the neurosurgery, neurology, epilepsy center, other internal medicine and other surgery department working at our hospital participated in this descriptive and cross-sectional study in 2022. The data were collected through an electronic questionnaire, which comprised four domains including demographic and clinical epilepsy-related questions, awareness of epilepsy section, 18 items for knowledge and a 15-item scale for attitudes. Mann-Whitney U tests, Kruskal-Wallis H tests, post hoc analysis, Pearson correlation analysis, and descriptive statistics were used to analyze the non-normal distribution of the dataset.

RESULTS

The clinical nurses' average score on the awareness of epilepsy section was 14.93 ± 2.69 (maximum score: 20), the knowledge of epilepsy section scored 15.41 ± 2.30 (maximum score: 18), and the epilepsy attitude section scored 30.65 ± 7.40. The knowledge and awareness accuracy of the responses to the epilepsy-related questions were positively and significantly correlated (r = 0.251, p < 0.001). The multiple linear regression model found that the department (p < 0.001) and rank (p = 0.015) of nurses were independently associated with awareness toward epilepsy. Meanwhile, there was a statistically significant difference between the departments of nurses and accuracy on the Epilepsy Knowledge Scale (H = 18.340, p < 0.001). In addition, 92.77% of nurses agreed that people with chronic epilepsy have the same rights as all people. Unfortunately, over 30% of nurses maintained an uncertain attitude toward the employment, marriage, and emotion related to epilepsy.

CONCLUSION

Our findings revealed that nurses had a general awareness and understanding of epilepsy, attitudes toward epilepsy. Specifically, nurses working in the Neurology Department and the Epilepsy Center were predisposed to have a considerably better level of awareness and knowledge of epilepsy. Additionally, as their understanding of epilepsy grew, so did their sensitivity to those who suffer from the condition. The study also recommends that epilepsy experts deliver additional lectures and training sessions to enhance nurses' knowledge of first-aid for seizures.

An evaluation of the knowledge and attitudes that Health Care Services department students have about epilepsy

AIM

This study was conducted to examine the knowledge and attitudes that students in the field of healthcare services have about epilepsy.

METHOD

This cross-sectional and descriptive study was conducted with 312 students of the Department of Health Care Services (home patient and elderly care) in Turkey. The data were collected using a sociodemographic information form, the Epilepsy Knowledge Level Scale, and the Attitudes Towards Epilepsy Scale. Descriptive statistics, the Shapiro-Wilk test, the Mann-Whitney U test, the Kruskal-Wallis H test and the Spearman correlation test were used to analyze the data. Significance was considered as p < 0.05.

RESULTS

Students in the field of healthcare services constituted the sample of the study, and more than half of the students (68.3%) were female. The mean scores obtained from the Epilepsy Knowledge Scale and the Epilepsy Attitude Scale were 8.38 ± 4.29 and 60.02 ± 7.28 respectively. A positive and significant relationship was found between the students' knowledge and attitude scores about epilepsy (p < 0.01). It was found that students' attitudes toward epilepsy positively increased as their knowledge increased. It was observed that female students who received education about epilepsy, witnessed seizures, and had relatives with epilepsy had more positive attitudes toward epilepsy.

CONCLUSION

In this study, it was found that the student participants had a moderate level of knowledge about epilepsy and exhibited a positive attitude toward epilepsy. It was determined that the students' attitudes toward epilepsy positively increased as their level of knowledge about epilepsy increased.

Conocimiento de los residentes de especialidades médico-quirúrgicas en Colombia acerca del estado epiléptico

 Introducción: el estado epiléptico es una emergencia con serias implicaciones a nivel social y económico, cuando no se maneja de manera adecuada puede llevar a la muerte. Debe abordarse por el primer especialista que tenga contacto con el paciente. En Colombia no hay estudios acerca de la adherencia a guías de práctica clínica. Objetivo: evaluar cuál es el conocimiento acerca del estado epiléptico en residentes de especialidades médico quirúrgicas en Colombia. Métodos: estudio de corte transversal descriptivo. Se aplicó una encuesta por medio de formulario google, diseñada con base en las guías de práctica clínica rutinaria para el manejo de esta patología. Resultados: respondieron la encuesta 76 residentes de neurología, medicina interna, medicina de urgencias y cuidado crítico, la edad más frecuente fue 26 a 31 años, con una relación hombre mujer de 46/54%. Discusión: las preguntas concernientes a las definiciones operativas y a los tiempos de acción fueron las que tuvieron una mejor consistencia al responderse, hay una importante falencia en la selección y uso de medicamentos anticrisis en el contexto del estado epiléptico, por lo que es importante fortalecer la educación médica en éstos aspectos académicos.

Public awareness of first-aid management of seizures in Saudi Arabia

BACKGROUND

First aid measures in cases of epileptic seizures are crucial. Misconceptions about seizure first-aid measures are probably common. Most of the previous data focused on teachers and healthcare providers. The objective of this study was to assess the awareness of seizure first-aid measures and their associated factors in a community sample in Saudi Arabia.

METHODS

A cross-sectional study was carried out using an online questionnaire between July 2020 and February 2021. Those who had never heard of epilepsy and healthcare workers were excluded. Overall and individual scores were calculated for first-aid measures during and after the seizures as well as calling the ambulance.

RESULTS

A total of 1542 participants were included in the study. The overall awareness score of seizure first-aid measures was 57.3%. The awareness of the need to call the ambulance in special circumstances was the highest individual score (78.3%), followed by measures after the seizure (54.2%), and finally measures during the seizure (48.4%). For the latter, the awareness of injury prevention measures was the highest (74.9%), while the awareness of treatment options was the lowest (12.2%). Overall awareness score was significantly higher in older age (p = 0.015), female gender (p < 0.001), divorced status (p = 0.014), knowing someone with epilepsy (p < 0.001), attending a course or workshop about seizure first-aid (p < 0.001), watching a video on seizure first-aid on any platform (p < 0.001), and having basic life support training (p < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

The awareness of seizure first-aid measures is still inadequate among the public in Saudi Arabia. The current finding underscores the importance of simulation videos on social media and/or field-training campaigns to improve the public awareness of seizure first-aid measures.

Evaluating the knowledge of and attitudes toward epilepsy among Turkish undergraduate nursing students: A cross-sectional study

AIM

This study was conducted to examine the knowledge of and attitudes toward epilepsy among nursing students.

METHOD

This descriptive and cross-sectional study was conducted with 369 nursing students. Data were collected through an anonymous online questionnaire prepared using the Introductory Information Form, Epilepsy Knowledge Scale (EKS), and Epilepsy Attitude Scale (EAS). Descriptive statistics, the Mann-Whitney U test, Student's t test, one-way ANOVA, and Pearson correlation test were used in the data analysis. A p value of 0.05 was considered the threshold for statistical significance.

FINDINGS

The sample of the study consisted of nursing students, and more than half of the students (63.4%) were females. 32.2% of the students were third-year students, and the mean age was 21.36 ± 2.12 years. The mean scores obtained on the EKS and the EAS were 10.03 ± 33.21 and 56.39 ± 5.40, respectively. A significant positive correlation was found between the knowledge and attitude scores of the students regarding epilepsy (p < 0.05), and students' attitude scores toward epilepsy increased with increased knowledge of the subject matter. Overall, female students had better knowledge levels and a more positive attitude toward epilepsy than male students (p < 0.05). Further, the students who had witnessed an epileptic seizure, knew someone with epilepsy, or provided care for patients with epilepsy, had higher scores on the EKS, and displayed better knowledge toward epilepsy (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

Nursing students were found to have moderate knowledge of and a positive attitude toward epilepsy. The positive attitude toward epilepsy increased with the increasing knowledge of epilepsy.

Effect of habits, traditions, and beliefs on seizure diagnosis and provide first aid in Taif city, KSA

Aim:

To determine the effect of habits, traditions, and beliefs on seizure diagnosis and provide first aid in Taif city, KSA.

Methods:

A cross-sectional study was conducted on 297 participants from Taif, KSA. An Arabic self-administrated electronic questionnaire was used that included different parts to collect the information from participants; characters, previous history of seizures, habits, beliefs and traditions about the seizures and first aid.

Results:

Most of the participants had an average level of knowledge by 20.88, 47.14 and 31.99% of the participants had a poor, average and good level of knowledge about seizures and epilepsy. 70.0% of our participants knew that seizure is a symptom associated with many diseases; 40.7% knew that hypoglycemia can cause a seizure, while 37 and 32.3% did not know seizure treatment and whether Hijama and Cupping therapy were enough to treat seizure; 26.9 and 35.4% of the participants responded by neither putting something hard on the patient's mouth nor opening the patient's mouth by force to protect him from swallowing his tongue, respectively. Only 17.2% agreed on not calling the ambulance for all seizure cases. Participants aged between 20 and 29 and single had a significant higher percent of good knowledge with no significant association between gender, income and educational level and the participant's level of knowledge.

Conclusion:

There is a lack of knowledge and misconceptions about aspects related to seizures among the studied participants. It is recommended to raise awareness and correct false misconceptions about providing first aid to seizure patients.

Are medical students adequately prepared to provide quality care for patients with epilepsy? A cross-sectional study of their knowledge and attitude

OBJECTIVE

This study assessed preparedness of Palestinian medical students as future physicians to care for patients with epilepsy through assessing their knowledge and attitude.

METHODS

The current study was conducted in a cross-sectional design. A pre-validated study tool was used to collect sociodemographic and academic details of the students, test their knowledge using a 16-item test, and test their attitude using a 13-item test.

RESULTS

A total of 386 medical students completed the study tool. The median knowledge score was 75.0% (range: 62.5% to 87.5%). The median attitude score was 81.5% (range: 73.8% to 89.2%). Knowledge and attitude scores correlated positively (Spearman's rho = 0.25, p-value < 0.001). Students who were in their clinical training stage (OR = 4.22, 95% CI of 2.54 to 7.01), who had received a course/part of a course on epilepsy (OR = 2.55, 95% CI of 1.26 to 5.17), who perceived their knowledge of epilepsy as moderate (OR = 3.14, 95% CI of 1.87 to 5.28), and those who perceived their knowledge of epilepsy as high (OR = 11.91, 95% CI of 2.47 to 57.41) were more likely to score ≥ 70% in the knowledge test compared to those who were in their basic training stage, who had not received a course/part of a course on epilepsy, and who perceived their knowledge of epilepsy as low, respectively.

CONCLUSION

Findings of the current investigation may indicate that inclusion of courses on epilepsy early in the medical curriculum might promote knowledge of medical students with regard to epilepsy.

The effect of a seminar on medical students' information acquisition of and attitudes toward epilepsy

AIM

The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of a brief seminar focusing on medical and social aspects of epilepsy on information acquisition of and attitudes toward epilepsy among medical school students.

METHOD

The sample of this pretest-posttest study consisted of 57 fifth-grade medical students. The students participated in a one-hour seminar including medical and social aspects of epilepsy. An epilepsy-related awareness form developed by researchers and also the Epilepsy Attitude Scale were applied to the participants before and after the seminar.

RESULTS

It was determined that half of the students (50.9%) encountered an epileptic seizure and 12.3% of them applied first aid. The students had difficulty in describing the seizure type before education. Before education, the rate of describing the seizure was 47.4% for myoclonic seizure, 50.9% for simple partial seizure, and 64.9% for absence seizure, and after education, these rates increased to 82.5% (p < 0.001), 91.2% (p < 0.001), and 98.2% (p < 0.001), respectively. Students generally well described the seizure triggering factors; however, the rate of students reporting the menstrual period as triggering factors were lower (66.7%), and the rates increased after the education (93.0%) (p = 0.001). The percentages of correct answers increased also for the questions regarding seizure first aid. The percentage of students who felt competent for seizure first-aid management increased from 12.3% to 91.2% (p < 0.001) after the education. The correct response rates of students for social aspects of epilepsy was generally high. In our study, attitude toward epilepsy was also evaluated. After the education, a mild increase in the attitude score of students was found (p = 0.009). Although it is minimal, the number of students who marked more positive attitude increased for each item of the Attitude scale.

CONCLUSION

Although a lack of acquaintance was found in some areas, awareness of epilepsy in our sample was at a moderate level. This study showed a positive effect of the education given to students on information acquisition and attitude.

Evaluation of nursing students' epilepsy-related knowledge and attitudes

AIM

This study evaluated the knowledge and attitudes of nursing students toward epilepsy.

METHOD

The descriptive and cross-sectional study was conducted with the voluntary participation of 161 nursing students in their 2nd, 3rd, and 4th years of study who were registered at the summer school of Trakya University, Faculty of Health Sciences in the 2017-2018 academic year. The data were collected through a research questionnaire form and the Epilepsy Knowledge and Attitude Scales. The normal distribution of the data was tested using the one-sample Kolmogorov-Smirnov test. Nonparametric tests were used since the data were not normally distributed. Descriptive statistics (mean, standard deviation, range, numbers, and percentages), the Mann-Whitney U test, the Kruskal-Wallis test, and Spearman's correlation test were used in the data analysis.

FINDINGS

Half of the nursing students (55.9%) were females with a mean age of 22.14 ± 1.81 years, and 43.5% of the students were third-year students. Of the students, 90.7% were informed about epilepsy from sources including their school/course/instructor (64%), the television/internet (10.6%), and healthcare professionals (6.8%). The mean scores obtained on the Epilepsy Knowledge Scale (EKS) and the mean score on the Epilepsy Attitude Scale (EAS) were 10.23 ± 4.24 and 57.66 ± 8.83, respectively. A significant positive correlation was found between the knowledge and attitude scores of the students regarding epilepsy (p < .001). As the students' knowledge increased, their attitudes also increased positively toward epilepsy. The female students had a more positive attitude toward epilepsy than did the male students. Further, the students who had knowledge about epilepsy and who provided care for patients with epilepsy had higher scores and displayed more positive attitudes toward epilepsy (p < .05).

CONCLUSION

This study determined that the participating nursing students had a moderate level of knowledge regarding epilepsy. In addition to theoretical knowledge of epilepsy, the experience of caring for a patient with epilepsy had a positive effect on the students' attitudes. The nursing education curriculum should place greater focus on epilepsy and interventions for epilepsy seizures.

Agreement of Palestinian nursing students with recommendations to eliminate epilepsy stigma and change perception of the general public about epilepsy: A cross-sectional study

OBJECTIVE

This study was conducted to assess the degree of agreement of Palestinian nursing students with recommendations and key messages to eliminate/reduce epilepsy stigma and change perception of the general public about epilepsy and people with epilepsy (PWE).

METHODS

A cross-sectional observational study was conducted among undergraduate nursing students. The study tool was a questionnaire with 24 items which collected the sociodemographic and academic characteristics of the participants (6 items) and agreements with 18 recommendations and key messages to eliminate/reduce epilepsy stigma.

RESULTS

A total of 342 nursing students completed the questionnaire with a response rate of 68.4%. The participants agreed with the 6 recommendations to inform media, improve awareness, and educate the general public on epilepsy (agreement rates: 87.7% to 92.4%), 4 recommendations to coordinate efforts to improve awareness and educate the general public on epilepsy and PWE (agreement rates: 89.8% to 93.0%), and 8 key messages to eliminate/reduce epilepsy stigma (agreement rates: 70.2% to 93.9%). In general, female students tended to express significantly higher levels of agreement with the recommendations and key messages (p-value < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

Results of the present study highlighted the importance of involving nurses and future nurses in eliminating/reducing epilepsy stigma and changing perception of the general public about epilepsy and PWE. Further studies are to be conducted to investigate if these recommendations and messages can eliminate or significantly reduce epilepsy stigma and change perception of the general public about epilepsy and PWE.

Epileptic seizures

Epilepsy is a condition marked by abnormal neuronal discharges or hyperexcitability of neurons with synchronicity and is recognized as a major public health concern. The pathology is categorized into three subgroups: acquired, idiopathic, and epilepsy of genetic or developmental origin. There are approximately 1000 associated genes and the role of γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) mediated inhibition, as well as glutamate mediated excitation, forms the basis of pathology. Epilepsy is further classified as being of focal, general or unknown onset. Genetic predisposition, comorbidities and novel biomarkers are useful for prediction. Prevalent postictal symptoms are postictal headache and migraine, postictal psychosis and delirium, postictal Todd's paresis and postictal automatisms. Diagnostic methods include electroencephalography (EEG), computed tomography scan, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), positron emission tomography, single photon emission computed tomography and genetic testing; EEG and MRI are the two main techniques. Clinical history and witness testimonies combined with a knowledge of seizure semiology helps in distinguishing between seizures. Clinical information and patient history do not always lead to a clear diagnosis, in which case EEG and 24-hour EEG monitoring with video recording (video-EEG/vEEG) help in seizure differentiation. Treatment includes first aid, therapeutics such as anti-epileptic drugs, surgery, ketogenic diet and gene therapy. In this review, we are focusing on summarizing published literature on epilepsy and epileptic seizures, and concisely apprise the reader of the latest cutting-edge advances and knowledge on epileptic seizures.

Investigation of knowledge and attitudes of military nurses about epilepsy

BACKGROUND

The knowledge and attitudes of military nurses are important for the quality of care of the individuals they care for.

AIM

This descriptive study aimed to determine the knowledge and attitudes of military nurses towards epilepsy.

METHOD

An introductory information form, an epilepsy knowledge scale, and an epilepsy attitude scale were used to collect data from 115 military nurses through social media.

RESULTS

The average score of the epilepsy knowledge scale was 14.04 ± 2.25, and that of the epilepsy attitude scale was 57.23 ± 4.39. While education, marital status, and having a relatives who are patients with epilepsy (PWE) did not affect knowledge and attitudes, encountering an epileptic seizure affected attitudes.

CONCLUSION

The knowledge of military nurses regarding epilepsy was high, and their attitudes towards the illness were positive.

Assessing knowledge and attitudes of Palestinian undergraduate nursing students toward epilepsy and patients with epilepsy: A cross-sectional study

OBJECTIVE

This study assessed knowledge and attitudes of undergraduate nursing students toward epilepsy and patients with epilepsy (PWEs). Associations between different sociodemographic and academic variables and knowledge and attitude scores were also assessed.

METHODS

The present study was conducted in a cross-sectional observational design among Palestinian undergraduate nursing students using a prevalidated and reliable questionnaire of 38 items. After collecting sociodemographic and academic characteristics, students answered a knowledge test (16 items) and attitude test (13 items).

RESULTS

The questionnaire was completed by 342 nursing students. The median knowledge score was 65.6 with an interquartile range (IQR) of 31.3, and the median attitude score was 81.5 with an IQR of 20.0. Multiple linear regression analyses showed that higher knowledge scores were predicted by being female in gender (p-value <0.05), had a course/studied about epilepsy (p-value <0.001), self-rated knowledge about epilepsy as high (p-value <0.05), and ever witnessing a PWE experiencing seizures (p-value <0.001). Higher attitude scores were predicted by self-rated knowledge about epilepsy as high (p-value <0.001), had a course/studied about epilepsy (p-value <0.05), and ever witnessed a PWE experiencing seizures (p-value <0.05).

CONCLUSION

Nursing students had moderate knowledge of epilepsy and had generally positive attitudes toward PWEs. Findings of this study highlighted knowledge gaps and areas for improvement. As knowledge scores were positively correlated with attitudes, probably, findings of this study might suggest that educational/training interventions can improve knowledge as well as positive attitudes of nursing students with regard to epilepsy and PWEs.

Knowledge, attitudes and practice towards epilepsy among medical staff in Southern China: Does the level of hospitals make a difference?

PURPOSE

To assess knowledge, attitudes, and practice (KAP) toward epilepsy among medical staff from different levels of hospitals in Southern China.

METHOD

An adapted and structured questionnaire was administered to medical personnel from tertiary (n = 451) and basic-level (n = 448) hospitals in Southern China. The questionnaire comprised of three domains which consisted of 6 items for awareness, 12 items for knowledge and a 14 item scale for attitudes.

RESULTS

Almost 40% of medical staff in basic-level hospitals held that epilepsy could be caused by evil spirits/eyes, or transmitted from other patients, which was almost 6 times higher than that of tertiary hospitals. The mean score from general knowledge about epilepsy was higher among medical staff in tertiary hospitals than in basic-level hospitals. The mean scores in the general and personal domain of the Chinese Public Attitudes Toward Epilepsy (CPATE) scale were both significantly lower among medical staff in tertiary hospitals, when compared to those of basic-level hospitals.

CONCLUSIONS

The overall KAP from medical staff in response to seizures, was found to be better in tertiary hospitals than those of basic-level hospitals in Southern China, which was associated with the education level and impact of traditional culture. To date, there is a need for effective public intervention programs in China to improve the awareness of epilepsy and reduce discrimination among medical workers, especially for those working in basic-level hospitals in rural regions, to finally promote a better living environment for patients with epilepsy in China.

Attitudes toward epilepsy among medical staffs in basic-level hospitals from southern China

OBJECTIVE

The objectives of the study were to assess attitudes toward epilepsy among medical staffs from basic-level hospitals in southern China and identify significant predictive factors for future stigma reduction interventions.

METHODS

The Public Attitudes Toward Epilepsy (PATE) scale, a two dimensional 14-item scale addressing two major domains: general domain and personal domain, was administered to 448 medical staffs from basic-level hospitals in southern China. Positively stated items in the PATE scale were reversely scored; in this case, a higher score would indicate a more negative attitude. Also, we compared the overall score and per-item scores of the medical staffs versus those of the general population reported in the previous studies using the same scale.

RESULTS

The cumulative score of the medical staffs was 41.65 ± 6.99, which is significantly lower as compared with 51.38 ± 6.80 of the general population (t (645) = -16.473, p < 0.001). The general average score (t (645) = -16.473, p < 0.001) and the mean score in the general domain (t (645) = -22.573, p < 0.001) of the PATE scale were both significantly lower in the medical staffs compared with the general population, whereas there was no significant difference between the two groups in the personal domain (t(645) = -0.180, p = 0.857). Age or years in clinical practice, specialty, and title had a significant impact on both the general domain and personal domain. Residence was the only factor found affecting the medical staffs' attitudes toward epilepsy in the personal domain but not in the general domain.

CONCLUSION

Medical staffs from basic-level hospitals in southern China demonstrate significant positive attitudes toward people with epilepsy in general aspects when compared with the general population. However, they still showed negative and conservative attitudes when it comes to the personal domain. Future strategies for stigma-reducing public interventions could focus on increasing better understanding of epilepsy among medical staffs in basic-level hospitals in China.

First-aid management of tonic-clonic seizures among healthcare personnel: A survey by the Apulian section of the Italian League Against Epilepsy

INTRODUCTION

To evaluate the knowledge of healthcare workers about first-aid measures to be performed during and after a tonic-clonic seizure.

METHODS

One hundred and fifty-four healthcare workers (86 physicians) working at 8 tertiary hospitals in the Apulia region, Italy, responded to a questionnaire comprising of 28 questions based on available Italian and international recommendations about what to do during a tonic-clonic seizure.

RESULTS

One hundred and fifty-four healthcare workers completed and returned surveys with a response rate of 96.25%. There were 55 nurses (35.7%), 86 physicians (55.8%), and 13 healthcare workers with different roles (Electroencephalograph technicians, psychologists, social workers). Among physicians, there were 7 cardiologists, 3 surgeons, 12 infectious-disease specialists, 11 internal medicine specialists, 2 psychiatrists, 2 gynecologists, 27 specialists working in the emergency department, and 22 physicians with different specializations. Nearly 90% of the respondents identified head protection as important first aid, while 100% responded to not keep the legs elevated. To avoid tongue bite, both physicians and other healthcare workers would put something in the mouth (54.0%), like a Guedel cannula (71.0%) fingers (29.5%). Grabbing arms and legs, trying to stop the seizure, would be potentially performed by 11.6% of our sample. Physicians would administer a benzodiazepine during the seizure (65.7%) and during the postictal phase (29.2%), even if the patient is known to have epilepsy (23.7%), and in this case, 11.3% of respondents would administer the usual antiepileptic medications. More than half of respondents would call the emergency telephone number, because of necessary hospitalization in case of tonic-clonic seizure, even if it is experienced by a patient known to have epilepsy.

CONCLUSION

Our survey suggests the need for epilepsy educational programs on first-aid management of seizures among healthcare workers.

Active epilepsy prevalence, the treatment gap, and treatment gap risk profile in eastern China: A population-based study

We measured the prevalence of active epilepsy and investigated the treatment gap and treatment gap risk profile in eastern China. This was a cross-sectional population-based survey conducted in Zhejiang, China, from October 2013 to March 2014. A total 54,976 people were selected using multi-stage cluster sampling. A two-stage questionnaire-based process was used to identify patients with active epilepsy and to record their demographic, socioeconomic, and epilepsy-related features. Logistic regression analysis was used to analyze risk factors of the treatment gap in eastern China, as adjusted for age and sex. We interviewed 50,035 people; 118 had active epilepsy (2.4‰), among which the treatment gap was 58.5%. In multivariate analysis, failure to receive appropriate antiepileptic treatment was associated with higher seizure frequency of 12-23 times per year (adjusted odds ratio=6.874; 95% confidence interval [CI]=2.372-19.918), >24 times per year (adjusted odds ratio=19.623; 95% CI=4.999-77.024), and a lack of health insurance (adjusted odds ratio=7.284; 95% CI=1.321-40.154). Eastern China has relatively lower prevalence of active epilepsy and smaller treatment gap. Interventions aimed at reducing seizure frequency, improving the health insurance system should be investigated as potential targets to further bridge the treatment gap.