Examination of parents' knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors about epilepsy

Abstract

Objective: The aim of our study is to evaluate the knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors of the parents of children diagnosed with epilepsy, regarding the treatment and first aid during seizures.

Methods: Parents of children who applied to Balikesir University Medical Faculty Pediatric Neurology Outpatient clinic, who were diagnosed with epilepsy, and who had regular controls were included in this cross-sectional study.

Results: In total, 117 patient parents participated in our study. The majority of the attendees were mothers (n = 74, 63.2%). The youngest of the participants was 20, the oldest was 70 years old, and their mean age was 37.2. It was found that the parents often learned the information they had about epilepsy only from the doctors (n = 69, 59%), and only antiepileptic drugs were used in the treatment of 111 (94.9%) patients and they did not try any other treatment methods. The number of participants who stated that epilepsy could be treated with drugs was 105 (89.7%). Most of the participants stated that they would lay their children down comfortably during the attack (n = 113, 96.6%) and that they would keep their mouth and airway open if possible so that they could breathe comfortably after positioning the child (n = 104, 88.9%).

Conclusions: In our study, our patients were informed both verbally and in writing about epilepsy and emergent intervention at certain periods before and after treatment and the right approach in the first intervention constituted the majority.