Primary school teacher's knowledge and attitudes toward children with epilepsy.
OBJECTIVE
Primary school teacher's knowledge and attitudes toward epilepsy can have significant impact on the performance and psycho-social development of the child with epilepsy. Our objectives were to study teacher's knowledge and attitudes and identify areas in which further teacher training and education are required.


METHODS
A stratified random sample survey involving a group of primary school teachers in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia included private/public schools designated for male and female students. A structured 37-item questionnaire was used to examine their demographics, knowledge, attitudes, and experience with epilepsy.


RESULTS
Six hundred and twenty primary school teachers working in public (58%) or private (42%) schools were included with ages ranging between 21 and 59 years (mean 36). Most teachers (79%) were of Saudi Arabian nationality and 66% had a college or university degree. Their years of experience ranged from 1 to 35 (mean 13.5). Only 17% of the teachers felt very well informed about epilepsy. Teachers with higher education were more likely to have good knowledge (p=0.009). Teachers of Saudi nationality were also more likely to report good knowledge, independent of their educational level (p=0.013). Overall, teachers with good knowledge were less likely to have negative attitudes including minding to have an epileptic child in their class (p=0.028) or thinking that they should be placed in a special classroom (p=0.029).


CONCLUSIONS
Primary school teacher's knowledge about epilepsy needs improvements. Their attitudes correlated highly with their knowledge. Educational campaigns about epilepsy are needed to develop a well informed and tolerant community.
Faculty of Medicine, King Abdulaziz University, Pediatrics, PO Box 80215, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia.
Albaraa S
AS
Abulhamail
Faculty of Medicine, King Abdulaziz University, Pediatrics, PO Box 80215, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia.
Fahad E
FE
Al-Sulami
Faculty of Medicine, King Abdulaziz University, Pediatrics, PO Box 80215, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia.
Mouneeb A
MA
Alnouri
Faculty of Medicine, King Abdulaziz University, Pediatrics, PO Box 80215, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia.
Najeeb M
NM
Mahrous
Faculty of Medicine, King Abdulaziz University, Pediatrics, PO Box 80215, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia.
Dima G
DG
Joharji
Faculty of Medicine, King Abdulaziz University, Pediatrics, PO Box 80215, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia.
Maha M
MM
Albogami
Faculty of Medicine, King Abdulaziz University, Pediatrics, PO Box 80215, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia. Electronic address: mmjan@kau.edu.sa.
Mohammed M
MM
Jan
D000328:Adult; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000523:psychology*; D005178:Faculty; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011897:Random Allocation; D013223:Statistics as Topic; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
Attitude; Child; Epilepsy; Knowledge; School; Teacher