Evaluation of physical educators' knowledge about epilepsy

Abstract

People with epilepsy suffer from a considerable lack of physical activity. In addition, an important problem of epilepsy management is the lack of qualified professionals. In this study we present data from a survey which aimed to assess physical educators' general knowledge about epilepsy. One hundred and thirty four physical educators of both sexes answered a questionnaire. Sixty percent of the professionals believe that a seizure is an abnormal electrical discharge of the brain, 13% that epilepsy is a cerebral chronic disease that can not be cured or controlled, 84% that people having convulsions will not necessarily present epilepsy and 5% that people with epilepsy have difficulties of learning. Questions concerned previous professional experience with epilepsy showed that 61% have seen a seizure and 53% have access to some information about epilepsy. Thus, 28% of professionals have a friend or relative with epilepsy, 14% have a student with epilepsy, and 29% helped someone during seizures. Our findings reveal a lack of physical educators' appropriate knowledge about epilepsy. Improvement of this might contribute to the improvement of epilepsy care/management. Key words: physical activity, physical education, epilepsy, knowledge.Avaliação do conhecimento de professores de educação física sobre epilepsia RESUMO Pessoas com epilepsia apresentam baixa participação em atividades físicas. Um importante problema nos cuidados da epilepsia é a falta de profissionais qualificados. Neste estudo apresentamos dados de uma pesquisa para avaliar o conhecimento de professores de educação física sobre a epilepsia. Um questionário foi respondido por 134 educadores físicos de ambos os sexos. Sessenta por cento dos profissionais acreditam que a crise epilética é uma descarga elétrica anormal do cérebro, 13% que a epilepsia é uma doença crônica cerebral que não pode ser curada ou controlada, 84% que pessoas que têm convulsões não necessariamente apresentam epilepsia e 5% que pessoas com epilepsia têm dificuldade de aprendizado. Em relação à experiência prévia do profissional, 61% presenciaram uma crise epilética e 53% tiveram acesso a alguma informação sobre epilepsia. Além disso, 28% dos profissionais possuíam amigo ou parente com epilepsia, 14% tinham um aluno com epilepsia e 29% já tinham socorrido alguém durante uma crise. Nossos achados revelam uma falta de conhecimento apropriado dos profissionais da área de educação física sobre a epilepsia. A melhora desse conhecimento pode contribuir para um adequado tratamento e cuidado da pessoa com epilepsia.

Knowledge about epilepsy among health professionals: a cross-sectional survey in São Paulo, Brazil

“…There is evidence that attitudes towards people with epilepsy are influenced by the degree of knowledge a person has of the disease. Vancini et al 10 found a low knowledge of epilepsy in physical educators, mainly on aspects of pathophysiology and treatment procedures. In primary schoolteachers, some incorrect procedures used when attending a person that is having a seizure have been related to misconceptions.…”

The understanding of patients with epilepsy with regard to how their disease is managed: The role of health professionals

“…In particular, health professionals should be responsible for providing care/management to patients with different types of health intervention (prescription of diet and physical activity and emotional/psychological support), in routine medical consultations, and during emergencies. To this end, our research group has previously demonstrated that there is poor understanding of neurological diseases (including epilepsy) among health professionals [4][5][6][7]. In a survey by Vancini et al [5], nutritionists, physical educators, and physiotherapists received lower scores on their epilepsy knowledge test than other health professionals (medical doctors, psychologists, and nurses), demonstrating that improvement in education about epilepsy and inclusion of formal programs for epilepsy education, especially for nonmedical professionals, are needed.…”

“…In a survey by Vancini et al [5], nutritionists, physical educators, and physiotherapists received lower scores on their epilepsy knowledge test than other health professionals (medical doctors, psychologists, and nurses), demonstrating that improvement in education about epilepsy and inclusion of formal programs for epilepsy education, especially for nonmedical professionals, are needed. We reported a lack of appropriate understanding by physical therapy educators about epilepsy (of 134 professionals evaluated, 57% did not have access to information about epilepsy, and only 13% understood that epilepsy is a cerebral chronic disease that can be cured or controlled) which could impact negatively on the management of physical activities and sport programs [4]. Low participation of people with epilepsy in sport activities and/or physical exercise programs is largely due to the inadequate knowledge of health professionals [8,9].…”

Interchangeability among therapeutic equivalents of lamotrigine: evaluation of quality of life

“…It is important to highlight that, in different cities throughout Brazil, a lack of adequate knowledge about the disease was noted rendering it a stigmatizing condition influencing patients' activities of daily living and quality of life (Fernandes, Noronha, Sander, 2008;Vancini et al, 2010).…”