Turkish validity and reliability of the Personal Impact of Epilepsy Scale

Examination of health literacy and personal impact of epilepsy in patients with epilepsy

AIM

We conducted this study to examine the impact of health literacy on the personal impact of epilepsy in patients with epilepsy.

METHOD

We conducted this cross-sectional and correlational study with 125 individuals who were admitted to the neurology outpatient clinic of a university hospital in eastern Turkey, who met the research criteria, and who accepted to participate in the study. We collected the data by using the "Descriptive Information Form (DIF)", "The Personal Impact of Epilepsy Scale (PIES)", and "Health Literacy Scale (HLS)".

RESULTS

We found that the mean HLS total score of the participants was 104.84 ± 22.88. We also found the mean PIES total score to be 27.08 ± 18.56. Regression results using PIES as a dependent variable reported that the model created was statistically significant (F (21,83) = 11.398, p < 0.05). Among the variables included in the model, income status and HLS were negative (β = -0.209; β = -0.194; β = -0.364, respectively) predictors of the PIES total score. However, seizure status in the last year, number of drugs used, and seizure type were positive predictors of the PIES total score. We found that the variables included in the analysis explained 74% of the total PIES score.

CONCLUSION

In conclusion, the health literacy level (HLL) of the participants was sufficient or very good, and the effect of the disease on individuals with epilepsy was low. The effect of the disease on individuals with epilepsy decreased as the level of health literacy increased.

Turkish validity and reliability study of disease-related fear scale in patients with epilepsy

OBJECTIVE

This study was conducted to examine the validity and reliability of the Turkish disease-related fear scale (D-RFS) for adult patients with epilepsy.

METHODS

This methodological study was conducted with 154 patients with epilepsy who were referred to the neurology clinic and outpatient clinic of Firat University Hospital between December 2021 and March 2022. Content and construct validity were evaluated after the scale was translated into Turkish. Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) were conducted for construct validity. Item analyses and internal consistency analyses were conducted for reliability. Convergent validity was also evaluated.

RESULTS

As a result of the evaluations and analyses, the content validity index of the scale was found to be 0.97. Exploratory factor analysis showed that the value of total variance explained by two factors was 74.77%. Factor loading of all items was found to be between 0.60 and 0.93. Cronbach's alpha values of the factors were found to be 0.97, while the total Cronbach's alpha value was found to be 0.95. As a result of the EFA and CFA, the 27-item, 2-factor disease-related fear scale was confirmed without changes to the original form of the scale. Good fit index values were obtained as a result of CFA.

CONCLUSION

The Turkish version of the disease-related fear scale for adult patients with epilepsy is a valid and reliable measurement tool to evaluate the disease-related fear of adult patients with epilepsy and to use in clinical practice.