[Knowledge and attitude toward epilepsy among health area students].
Several studies in different countries show a lack of knowledge about epilepsy with consequent prejudice and discrimination to epileptic patients. We aim to evaluate knowledge and attitudes of health area junior and senior students. Simple self-administered questionnaires were applied to 290 junior students and to 274 senior students. Senior students had more familiarity, better knowledge about etiology and had a more positive perception about anticonvulsant medication. Positive attitudes about work were more common among senior students. Although, significant percentage of students had a lack of knowledge about epilepsy. A third of the respondents could use improper and potentially harmful measures during a seizure. Actions directed to increment the knowledge and attitudes of health area students could improve the quality of life of patients with epilepsy.
Fonseca
Lineu Corrêa
LC
Faculdade de Medicina, Pontifícia Universidade Católica de Campinas, SP, Brazil. lineu@mpc.com.br
Tedrus
Gloria M A S
GM
Costa
Ana Carolina Freire
AC
Luciano
Paulo Queiroz
PQ
Costa
Kátia Cristina
KC
D000328:Adult; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000523:psychology*; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006281:Health Occupations / Q000193:education*; D006801:Humans; D013336:Students, Health Occupations / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires