Common misconceptions in people with epilepsy.
OBJECTIVE
This study was undertaken to determine the knowledge that people with epilepsy (PWE) have regarding the nature of epilepsy and its management, and also to identify the factors contributing to their knowledge of epilepsy.


METHODS
We studied 79 consecutive PWE who visited the outpatient clinic of Seoul National University Hospital using a structured questionnaire consisting of 27 questions in 3 categories. The mean correct response rate was 61%, with 81% believing that brain cells die during a seizure, 29% considering it dangerous to take a bath or shower alone, and more than 70% believing that taking antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) will impair memory and damage the liver and kidneys.


RESULTS
The mean overall correct-answer rate was significantly related to gender, length of education, type of seizures, and regularity of hospital visits (all p<0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
The level of knowledge deviated significantly from the scientific data, especially in the causes of epilepsy, safety issues, and side effects of AEDs. A large-scale study should identify those PWE with the lowest knowledge of epilepsy, and then develop and implement suitable educational intervention programs to improve their knowledge.
Choi-Kwon
Smi
S
College of Nursing & Research Institute of Nursing Science, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea.
Kim
E K
EK
Youn
S M
SM
Choi
J M
JM
Lee
Sang Kun
SK
Chung
Chun-Kee
CK
Epilepsy Behav. 2004 Aug;5(4):435-9
15256178
Epilepsy Res. 2000 Aug;41(1):39-51
10924867
Patient Educ Couns. 2001 Jan;42(1):25-33
11080603
Epilepsia. 2003 Jan;44(1):115-23
12581238
Epilepsia. 1998 Aug;39(8):904-7
9701385
Epilepsia. 2000 Aug;41(8):1027-35
10961631
Epilepsy Res. 1997 Sep;28(2):119-28
9267776
Acta Neurol Scand. 2004 Jul;110(1):39-45
15180805
Seizure. 2003 Oct;12(7):473-7
12967575
J Korean Med Sci. 2003 Apr;18(2):248-54
12692424
Epilepsia. 2000 Jun;41(6):727-31
10840406
Epilepsia. 1990 Jan-Feb;31(1):88-94
2303017
Epilepsia. 2002 Mar;43(3):311-6
11906517
Epilepsy Behav. 2002 Dec;3(6S2):26-32
12609303
Epilepsia. 2002 May;43(5):539-49
12027917
Epilepsia. 2001 Jun;42(6):785-9
11422337
Epilepsia. 1990 Mar-Apr;31(2):182-7
2318170
Seizure. 2003 Jan;12(1):11-8
12495643
Seizure. 2003 Oct;12(7):502-7
12967580
Epilepsia. 1995 May;36(5):488-93
7614927
Br J Gen Pract. 1993 Nov;43(376):453-7
8292416
Brain. 2000 Mar;123 Pt 3:472-83
10686171
Epilepsia. 1997 Mar;38(3):353-62
9070599
Epilepsia. 1997 Apr;38(4):439-44
9118849
Neuropediatrics. 1994 Feb;25(1):51-3
8208354
Epilepsia. 1999 May;40(5):643-51
10386535
Neurology. 1988 Apr;38(4):633-4
3352923
Seizure. 1999 May;8(3):135-9
10356368