title: Awareness, attitudes and perceptions on epilepsy in Southern Brazil.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To verify awareness and attitudes toward epilepsy in Southern Brazil.
  
  
  METHODS
  A questionnaire about familiarity with the disease, awareness and attitudes toward epileptics was applied to 832 inhabitants of Caxias do Sul. The answers were analyzed in three different groups: G1, non-university students; G2, university students up to the second year; and G3, university students with more than two years education and university graduates.
  
  
  RESULTS
  University students and graduates are better informed regarding causes and treatment of epilepsy. Moreover, those interviewees present less negative attitudes toward epileptics. However, a large part of that group lacks some basic information on the disease.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There is lack of information on epilepsy among Brazilians. Education campaigns should be carried out in order to clarify some aspects concerning epilepsy.
authors.affiliation: Universidade de Caxias do Sul, Caxias do Sul, RS, Brazil. asdrubal@doctor.com
authors.forename: Asdrubal
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Falavigna
authors.forename: Alisson Roberto
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Teles
authors.forename: Felipe
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Roth
authors.forename: Maíra Cristina
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Velho
authors.forename: Marcelo Ricardo Rosa
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Roxo
authors.forename: Alexandre Luiz
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Dal Bosco
authors.forename: Roberta Castilhos da
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.forename: Tatiane
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Carrer
authors.forename: Miguel Francisco de Lessa
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Medina
authors.forename: Gustavo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Salvati
authors.forename: Cleiton
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Dahmer
authors.forename: Maira
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Basso
authors.forename: Viviane Maria
authors.initials: VM
authors.lastname: Vedana
authors.forename: Thaís
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Mazzocchin
authors.forename: Gabriela
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Mosena
authors.forename: Ricardo Gil
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Ribeiro
authors.forename: Tiago Adami
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Siqueira
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001364:Awareness; D001938:Brazil; D004522:Educational Status; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires