title: Common misconceptions in people with epilepsy.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: College of Nursing & Research Institute of Nursing Science, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Smi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Choi-Kwon
authors.forename: E K
authors.initials: EK
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: S M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Youn
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Sang Kun
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Chun-Kee
authors.initials: CK
authors.lastname: Chung
references.citation: Epilepsy Behav. 2004 Aug;5(4):435-9
references.pmid: 15256178
references.citation: Epilepsy Res. 2000 Aug;41(1):39-51
references.pmid: 10924867
references.citation: Patient Educ Couns. 2001 Jan;42(1):25-33
references.pmid: 11080603
references.citation: Epilepsia. 2003 Jan;44(1):115-23
references.pmid: 12581238
references.citation: Epilepsia. 1998 Aug;39(8):904-7
references.pmid: 9701385
references.citation: Epilepsia. 2000 Aug;41(8):1027-35
references.pmid: 10961631
references.citation: Epilepsy Res. 1997 Sep;28(2):119-28
references.pmid: 9267776
references.citation: Acta Neurol Scand. 2004 Jul;110(1):39-45
references.pmid: 15180805
references.citation: Seizure. 2003 Oct;12(7):473-7
references.pmid: 12967575
references.citation: J Korean Med Sci. 2003 Apr;18(2):248-54
references.pmid: 12692424
references.citation: Epilepsia. 2000 Jun;41(6):727-31
references.pmid: 10840406
references.citation: Epilepsia. 1990 Jan-Feb;31(1):88-94
references.pmid: 2303017
references.citation: Epilepsia. 2002 Mar;43(3):311-6
references.pmid: 11906517
references.citation: Epilepsy Behav. 2002 Dec;3(6S2):26-32
references.pmid: 12609303
references.citation: Epilepsia. 2002 May;43(5):539-49
references.pmid: 12027917
references.citation: Epilepsia. 2001 Jun;42(6):785-9
references.pmid: 11422337
references.citation: Epilepsia. 1990 Mar-Apr;31(2):182-7
references.pmid: 2318170
references.citation: Seizure. 2003 Jan;12(1):11-8
references.pmid: 12495643
references.citation: Seizure. 2003 Oct;12(7):502-7
references.pmid: 12967580
references.citation: Epilepsia. 1995 May;36(5):488-93
references.pmid: 7614927
references.citation: Br J Gen Pract. 1993 Nov;43(376):453-7
references.pmid: 8292416
references.citation: Brain. 2000 Mar;123 Pt 3:472-83
references.pmid: 10686171
references.citation: Epilepsia. 1997 Mar;38(3):353-62
references.pmid: 9070599
references.citation: Epilepsia. 1997 Apr;38(4):439-44
references.pmid: 9118849
references.citation: Neuropediatrics. 1994 Feb;25(1):51-3
references.pmid: 8208354
references.citation: Epilepsia. 1999 May;40(5):643-51
references.pmid: 10386535
references.citation: Neurology. 1988 Apr;38(4):633-4
references.pmid: 3352923
references.citation: Seizure. 1999 May;8(3):135-9
references.pmid: 10356368