Training medical students to improve the management of people with epilepsy.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the knowledge, attitude and perception of medical students prior to and after a training course about epilepsy.


METHODS
We used a KAP questionnaire with sixty-one questions which assesses knowledge, attitude and practice of epilepsy. Questionnaires were completed by 185 medical students, before and after epilepsy training. We compared the answers to see whether the lecture had changed the knowledge, attitude and practice in epilepsy.


RESULTS
One hundred and six students completed the questionnaire before an eight hour course on epilepsy and 79 students completed the questionnaire one year after the course. Comparison of the knowledge scores prior to (mean=53.9, standard deviation=11.4) and after the course (mean=63.8, standard deviation=11.9) showed that students had improved knowledge after the course (t-test=5.6, p<0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
Training course on epilepsy for medical students can promote improvement in the knowledge, attitudes and perception regarding epilepsy, which is maintained one year later. These results highlight the importance of continuous educational programs within the Medical Curriculum.
Noronha
Ana L A
AL
Departament of Neurology, State University of Campinas, Campinas, Brazil.
Fernandes
Paula T
PT
Andrade
Maria da Graça G
Mda G
Santiago
Silvia M
SM
Sander
Josemir W
JW
Li
Li M
LM
D000328:Adult; D004504:Education, Medical, Undergraduate; D004827:Epilepsy; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D013337:Students, Medical; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires