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BackgroundInformation on the knowledge of, and attitudes and practices towards epilepsy of the general population in Thailand is still limited, particularly with respect to the differences between populations in municipal and nonmunicipal areas.MethodsA descriptive cross-sectional survey was conducted in a sample population of 1,000, with 500 participants each from municipal and nonmunicipal areas, in the Khon Kaen district.ResultsThe participants in the municipal area had higher incomes and higher education than did the participants in the nonmunicipal area. Both groups had low knowledge regarding epilepsy definition, causes, and treatment, but participants in the municipal area were more knowledgeable on the causes, types, and treatment of epilepsy. With respect to attitude, there were a significantly higher number of nonmunicipal participants than municipal participants who thought epilepsy was a disgusting disorder or that persons with epilepsy were sinful, had brain damage, and could not attend school. The municipal participants showed greater knowledge of correct practice than did nonmunicipal participants with regard to the following: not driving a car; avoiding acrobatic sports, fighting, or water sport; able to eat pork, not having to resign from work; not having to quit school; and able to have sexual relations.ConclusionThe participants from the municipal area had better knowledge, attitudes, and practices than did the participants from the nonmunicipal area. A campaign should be carried out to promote knowledge and understanding of, and practices towards epilepsy. Different emphases should be placed on the two groups of populations and different strategies used.

Stroke is a chronic disease requiring patients to be treated for a long period of time. Patients need to been given close and attentive care, and this has an impacton the health and daily lives of caregivers. The aim of this cross-sectional descriptive study was to investigate the quality of life of stroke patient caregivers at Srinagarind Hospital, Khon Kaen Province, Thailand. The subjects were 166 caregivers of all stroke patients who received treatment at Srinagarind Hospital during the period 1 July 10 September, 2011. The research tool was a questionnaire which was intwo parts: Part 1 was designed to collect baseline data about the patients and their caregivers, and Part 2 was the Thai version of the brief WHO quality of life assessment instrument (WHOQOL-BREF-THAI). Data were collected from the patients medical histories and from interviews conducted by the researchers and were analyzed using descriptive statistics. The results showed that the overall quality of life of caregivers was at a moderate level with a mean score of92.5. In terms of each component domain of the quality of lifeinstrument, the mean scores for physical health, mental health, social relationships, and the environment were24.1, 21.3, 10.7, and 29.3 points, respectively.Even though the quality of life of caregivers was moderatelyhigh, medical professionals who provide care for stroke patients should assist and support caregivers in various ways by, for example, giving advice on sources of information which are useful to the caregivers themselves and for the physical and mental health care of the patients in. They should also provide assistance to families when they require help in continuing to care for the patients in their own homes.