بررسي آگاهي بيماران مبتلا به صرع از بيماري خود در مراجعان كلينيك صرع بيمارستان رازي تبريز

Evaluation of Knowledge of Epileptic Patients about their Disorders

Background & purposes: Patientsʹ knowledge of their disorder is an essential component of their care. Studies about this issue are scanty. We report the first study in Iranian epileptic patients from the Epilepsy clinic. Methods: Seven hundred and fifty patients above 15 yr. old were selected. EPKQ (Epilepsy patients knowledge Questionnair) of ohio university is used for gathering of information. This questionair included demographic data-topics related seizure definition-type and dose of drugs-legal issues of driving and employment. Then informations were analyzed statistically with EP16 softwere. Results: Of 750 patients (280 female, 470 male) the average age and number with epilepsy were 32 ±10 and 12±10 yr. respectively. Neither age nor number of years with epilepsy correlated with scores. Years of education & sexuality (maleʹ scores were higher) affected scores significantly. Twenty percent believed that epilepsy is a mental disorder. Thirty-eight percent knew which factors increases seizures. The lowest scores pertained to antiepileptic drug side effects and discontinue of them (only 5% knew enough). Overall patientsʹ knowledge level was low. Conclusion: Patients with epilepsy are not knowledgeable about their disease. This causes increase of injuries during attacks, problems of tretment and finally affects their quality of lives. There is a need for educational intervention in this population. Particularly about antiepileptic drugs side effects (AED), proper time of AED discontinuation and legal issues of epilepsy.