title: An educational campaign toward epilepsy among Italian primary school teachers: 1. Survey on knowledge and attitudes.
abstract: A questionnaire survey was undertaken to assess the impact of a nationwide educational campaign about epilepsy on the knowledge and attitudes toward the disease among Italian primary school teachers. Five hundred and eighty-two teachers participated. All interviewees were aware of the existence of epilepsy, and most of them had direct experience with the disease. Answers about frequency, causes, outcome, and response to treatments were variable and not correlated with age, residency, and years of experience. Teachers had positive attitudes toward epilepsy, except for the idea that driving and sports can be safe for people with epilepsy. Epilepsy and its treatment were considered a source of learning disability and social disadvantages. Several teachers declared themselves being unable to help a child having seizures. Calling an ambulance was a frequent action. Knowledge and attitudes toward epilepsy are improved compared with those reported in our previous studies. Although this may be a positive reflection of the increasing knowledge and the greater availability of information on epilepsy, there are still areas of uncertainty and incorrect behaviors.
authors: Sapienza Università di Roma, Dipartimento di Neurologia e Psichiatria, Azienda Policlinico Umberto 1°, Roma, Italy.
authors: Oriano
authors: O
authors: Mecarelli
authors: IRCCS-Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri, Dipartimento di Neuroscienze, Milano, Italy.
authors: Paolo
authors: P
authors: Messina
authors: Child Neuropsychiatry Department, Epilepsy Center "C. Poma Hospital", Mantova, Italy.
authors: Giuseppe
authors: G
authors: Capovilla
authors: IRCCS-Istituto delle Scienze Neurologiche di Bologna, Unit of Neurology, Bellaria Hospital, Bologna, Italy.
authors: Roberto
authors: R
authors: Michelucci
authors: Pediatric Neurology Unit and Epilepsy Center, Department of Neuroscience, "Fatebenefratelli e Oftalmico" Hospital, Milano, Italy.
authors: Antonino
authors: A
authors: Romeo
authors: IRCCS-Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri, Dipartimento di Neuroscienze, Milano, Italy. Electronic address: ettore.beghi@marionegri.it.
authors: Ettore
authors: E
authors: Beghi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000523:psychology*; D005178:Faculty; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D007558:Italy; D008297:Male; D012574:Schools; D012640:Seizures; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: Attitudes; Epilepsy; Knowledge; School; Teachers