The trend in public attitudes in the Czech Republic towards persons with epilepsy.
This study evaluates trends in public familiarity with and attitudes towards people with epilepsy over a 16-year time-period. A survey exploring the Czech public's attitudes towards and knowledge of epilepsy used a modified version of a questionnaire first used in the USA in 1949, and in the Federal Republic of Germany beginning in 1968. This survey was carried out for the first time in the Czech Republic (then Czechoslovakia) in 1981, and then again in 1984. There was no significant difference between the 1981 and 1984 responses. A slightly modified questionnaire was used in 1997-1998, with evaluable responses gathered from 235 people. In comparison with the 1981 study, people's acquaintance with epilepsy was significantly higher in 1997-1998. In 1997-1998, about 94% of the people surveyed had some information about epilepsy (78% in 1981). Intolerance towards children with epilepsy dropped from 29 to 13%. About 30% of the people surveyed considered epilepsy to be a mental disease (50% in 1981). Employment of people with epilepsy was recommended by 74% (42% in 1981). In contrast with the situation about 16 years earlier, there were fewer important differences from the results of similar surveys taken in other European countries. However, the answers concerning the willingness to help a person having a seizure show that, despite certain progress, the quality of information that the Czech population has is not fully satisfactory.
Novotná
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First Department of Neurology, Masaryk University, St Anne's Hospital, Brno, Czech Republic.
Rektor
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D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D018153:Czech Republic; D004651:Employment / Q000523:psychology; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006266:Health Education / Q000639:trends*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011584:Psychology / Q000639:trends*; D011639:Public Opinion; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires