Confronting the stigma of epilepsy

Thomas, Sanjeev V; Nair, Aparna

doi:10.4103/0972-2327.85873

Cited by 80 publications

(44 citation statements)

References 37 publications

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“…Social stigma and discrimination of PWE occur in both developed and developing countries [5,6]. In many countries, this disorder is still shrouded in secrecy and patients prefer not to reveal or discuss their condition [7]. In Malaysia, a survey to assess public awareness and knowledge reported that even though there was a high awareness of the condition, many of the 839 respondents had negative attitudes and poor knowledge on epilepsy [8].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The quality of life of people with epilepsy at a tertiary referral centre in Malaysia

Norsa’adah

Zainab

Knight

2013

Health and Quality of Life Outcomes

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BackgroundEpilepsy, a chronic disorder of brain characterised by a predisposition to generate epileptic seizures, has an effect on the psychosocial well-being of sufferers. Measuring the quality of life (QOL) of people with epilepsy (PWE) is increasingly recognized as an important component of clinical management. QOL measures differ between countries and there is limited information regarding PWE in Malaysia. The aim of this study was to determine the health related QOL and its relationship with the presence of seizures in PWE at a Malaysian tertiary referral center.MethodsA total of 106 adults with epilepsy attending the weekly neurology clinic of Universiti Sains Malaysia Hospital were interviewed in this cross-sectional study. The QOL was measured using a validated Malay translated version of the Quality of Life in Epilepsy Scale-31 (QOLIE-31). Analysis of covariance was used for data analysis.ResultsThe mean age was 31.8 years old (standard deviation (SD) 11.0) and 56.6% were females. The mean total score of QOLIE-31was 68.9 (SD 15.9). The highest subscale score was the medication effects with a mean of 79.4 (SD 28.5) and the lowest was seizure worry with 47.5 (SD 25.0). Respondents who had one or more seizures in the past four weeks had significantly lower mean score of QOL [63.4, 95% CI: 59.2, 67.5] than those who had no seizure [mean score 73.5, 95% CI: 69.3, 77.9] after adjusting for age, sex, treatment, duration and age at onset of epilepsy [F test =11.215, p = 0.001, R2 = 0.159]. All the sub-scales of QOL showed significant moderate correlation with the frequency of seizures except for cognitive functioning.ConclusionsWorrying about seizure had the major contribution on QOL, while medication effect had the least. This study confirms the importance of seizure control for a better QOL in Malaysian patients with epilepsy.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The quality of life of people with epilepsy at a tertiary referral centre in Malaysia

Norsa’adah

Zainab

Knight

2013

Health and Quality of Life Outcomes

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“…11 Some, though not all, people with epilepsy feel stigmatised by their condition. 12 The relationship between the severity of epilepsy and its impact on QOL is complex and may be determined by a number of different factors. 13 QOL in patients with epilepsy is a function of an interaction of factors which include clinical variables (e.g.…”

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confidence: 99%

Quality of Life and its Determinants in People with Epilepsy in Basrah , Iraq = نوعية الحياة و محدداتها عند المصابين بالصرع في البصرة ، العراق

Shakir¹,

Al-Asadi²

2012

SQUMJ

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abstract:Objective: The objective of this study was to assess the quality of life (QOL) in people with epilepsy and to evaluate various factors affecting their QOL. Methods: A total of 116 patients with epilepsy and a control group of 116 apparently healthy persons were included in this case-control study which was conducted at the neurology outpatient clinic of Basrah General Hospital, Iraq. An interview was performed with the use of a special questionnaire, which included data pertaining to socio-demographic characteristics, and clinical characteristics (for patients with epilepsy only). The QOL was assessed with the use of a Short Form (SF-36) health survey. Results: Epileptic patients showed lower overall QOL scores as compared to controls. In the univariate analysis, patients who were older, from rural areas, and with low education and income levels had low er overall QOL scores. Frequent seizures as well as increased duration of epilepsy were also significant factors associated with reduction in QOL scores. In the multivariate regression analysis, age, educational level, income and frequency of seizures were significant determinants of QOL. Conclusion: Certain socio-demographic factors as well as clinical factors were crucial in determining QOL in epilepsy patients. Recognition of these factors will lead health professionals to develop different strategies to improve the QOL of those patients. Keywords

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“…Yet they encounter individuals who hold firm beliefs of supernatural associations with epileptics. As future health care providers, they should be trained appropriately to deal with situations which might put the patients' psychological conditions at stake due to social burden [1]. Hence, prompt steps to spread awareness among the population include the proper attitude and understanding of medical professionals towards epileptic patients as well as counseling of common man so as to improve their approach towards epileptics because eradicating ignorant beliefs and practices is essential to improving the quality of life of these patients.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Epilepsy is one of the commonest neurological disorders with marked sociocultural stigma [1]. It is a neurodegenerative disease manifesting as seizures that lack any toxic grounds.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Awareness and Knowledge on Epilepsy Among Undergraduate Medical Students in Pakistan

Ahmed

Ahmed²,

Ramzan³

et al. 2015

Int Arch Med

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Background: Epilepsy is a common neurological disorder which affects millions of people throughout the world. However, it has been discovered that there is a great degree of ignorance regarding the science of epilepsy among the general masses as well as the populace of medical students. Studies have been conducted whose results have shown that, there has been fabrication regarding the clinical presentation & treatment of epilepsy among the common man. Numerous appear to link epilepsy to evil spirits and possession that can be healed by spiritual treatments by certain specialists given the designations of 'demonologists', 'paranormal investigators' or 'mystics'. In such circumstances, medical students can prove to be a major source to educate the society at large. Therefore, it is crucial that their knowledge & attitude towards epilepsy is accurate and thus, must be evaluated at an early stage in their medical career, so that these future physicians may play a pivotal role in the public awareness of epilepsy. Method:This study was conducted in Pakistan, at a Government sector medical college, namely, Karachi Medical and Dental College. This is a cross-sectional study. Data was collected between October to December of the year 2014. 270 medical students were given the KAP (knowledge, attitude & practice) form of epilepsy to fill out. The software used to interpret and tabulate the results was SPSS v.16 for Windows. The chi-square test was employed to determine the proportion of knowledge of epilepsy among medical students. The p-value calculated was equal to 0.05. Findings:In this study, 270 medical students were recruited, of which 90 were males (33.3%) where as 180 were females (66.6%). The ages of the student participants were within the range of 18 This article is available at: www.intarchmed.com and www.medbrary.com 2 to 24 years. The analysis of our study demonstrates that: 85.1% of the medical students consider epilepsy to be a neurological disorder; 6.66% believe epilepsy is an infectious disease; 4.44% believe it to be a hereditary disease, whereas, 3.7% of the students reckon it is a psychiatric illness. Generalized tonic clonic seizures was deemed to be the most common form of epilepsy (25.5%) with complex partial seizures being the least common form (1.85%), as well as relatively unknown by the students.It was discovered through this study that, students were much less acquainted with the knowledge regarding the treatment of the disorder: multiple drug therapy was considered as the treatment by 56.66% of the students, spiritual treatment by 3.7%, spiritual treatment with medication by 20%, surgical treatment by 17.4% & 2.22% deemed epilepsy as a self limiting disease. Conclusion:It has been observed with this survey that the medical students of Pakistan are well aware of the knowledge of epilepsy and it being a medical condition. However, the students need to be educated early on in their training to be physicians, about certain aspects and details of the neurological disorder, for instance, th...

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Confronting the stigma of epilepsy

Cited by 80 publications

References 37 publications

The quality of life of people with epilepsy at a tertiary referral centre in Malaysia

The quality of life of people with epilepsy at a tertiary referral centre in Malaysia

Quality of Life and its Determinants in People with Epilepsy in Basrah , Iraq = نوعية الحياة و محدداتها عند المصابين بالصرع في البصرة ، العراق

Awareness and Knowledge on Epilepsy Among Undergraduate Medical Students in Pakistan

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