Training the trainers and disseminating information: a strategy to educate health professionals on epilepsy.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the knowledge, attitudes and perceptions of epilepsy in primary care system health professionals prior to and after an educational intervention.


METHODS
Educational interventions were delivered to three groups of people with an interest in epilepsy: 1. Information courses for physicians (241 subjects); 2. Social re-integration course for health professionals and community leaders (631 subjects); 3. "Training the Trainers" Course for physicians (11 subjects). The whole program is flexible and can be tailored for local or regional needs. For the evaluation of this process, health professionals completed a quantitative and qualitative questionnaire to assess their knowledge, attitudes and perception (KAP) of epilepsy prior to the training (pre-test) and 6 months after it (post-test).


RESULTS
Comparison of knowledge scores prior to (mean=55.8, standard deviation=14.0) and after (mean=71.5, standard deviation=12.0) the intervention showed that physicians had improved knowledge after the training (t-test=7.8, p<0.001). The same pattern occurred with the health professionals: the knowledge score prior to (mean=22.3, standard deviation=12.5) and after (mean=36.6, standard deviation=12.5) the intervention showed that health professionals had improved knowledge after the training (t-test=12.4, p<0.001). Improvements in attitudes and perception also occurred after the courses.


CONCLUSIONS
Training courses can promote increased knowledge, attitude and perception in a cost effective way in the primary care setting. However, a continuous education program is required to correct oversights and to improve the management of people with epilepsy.
Fernandes
Paula T
PT
Department of Neurology, Faculty of Medicine, UNICAMP, Campinas, SP, Brazil.
Noronha
Ana L A
AL
Sander
Josemir W
JW
Bell
Gail S
GS
Li
Li M
LM
D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D001938:Brazil; D002983:Clinical Competence; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D006282:Health Personnel / Q000193:education*; D006801:Humans; D007318:Inservice Training; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011320:Primary Health Care; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires