[Level of knowledge about epilepsy among Polish patients with epilepsy and their families in the European study SPOKE (Sanofi-Synthelabo Programme for Outcome Knowledge of Epilepsy)].
OBJECTIVE
The main aim of the European Study SPOKE (Sanofi-Synthelabo Programme for Outcome Knowledge of Epilepsy) designed by the Department of Neurosciences, Walton Hospital in Liverpool and the Centre for Health Services Research at the University of Newcastle upon Tyne, England, was to describe levels of knowledge about epilepsy among people with epilepsy and their families. It was equally important to identify gaps in understanding the most important aspects of the illness as well as to identify characteristics of people who score poorly on the Epilepsy Knowledge Questionnaire (EKQ). Another aim was to consider the implications of identified gaps in knowledge for future educational and psychosocial interventions.


METHODS
The study was conducted in 10 European countries and included 6156 people with epilepsy and 6506 members of their families. Results presented here relate to data for Poland only, where the examined population consisted of 1028 patients with epilepsy. 1033 questionnaires were returned by carers.


RESULTS
Over 40% of all respondents had frequent seizures, and one third were seizure free. Scores on the Epilepsy Knowledge Questionnaire were high for the majority of respondents, but generally lower than in most of the countries. With reference to some aspects of illness important gaps in knowledge have been demonstrated. For example, it was shown that a significant number of respondents provided incorrect answers to questions relating to aspects of the etiology of epilepsy and administration of antiepileptic drug medication. There were a number of significant differences between the profiles of high and low scorers on the EKQ; high scorers were likely to have spent longer on education, have lower scores on the impact of epilepsy scale and report better adjustment to their epilepsy.


CONCLUSIONS
The results of the study once again underline the importance of continued information among patients with epilepsy and their families in order to achieve.
Niedzielska
Krystyna
K
Instytut Psychiatrii i Neurologii, Zakład Neurofizjologii Klinicznej, Warsaw. niedziel@ipin.edu.pl
Wolańczyk
Tomasz
T
Baker
Gus A
GA
Jakoby
Ann
A
Doughty
Julie
J
De Boer
Hanneke
H
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D004522:Educational Status; D004827:Epilepsy; D005191:Family Characteristics; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011044:Poland; D011159:Population Surveillance; D011788:Quality of Life