title: Training medical students to improve the management of people with epilepsy.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Departament of Neurology, State University of Campinas, Campinas, Brazil.
authors.forename: Ana L A
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Noronha
authors.forename: Paula T
authors.initials: PT
authors.lastname: Fernandes
authors.forename: Maria da Graça G
authors.initials: Mda G
authors.lastname: Andrade
authors.forename: Silvia M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Santiago
authors.forename: Josemir W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Sander
authors.forename: Li M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: 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