title: Association of knowledge about epilepsy with mood and self-efficacy in Korean people with epilepsy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We determined the level of knowledge about epilepsy in Korean people with epilepsy (PWE) and evaluated whether this is associated with self-efficacy, perceived stigma, anxiety, and depressive mood in these patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a cross-sectional multicenter study. A total of 530 PWE participated from 31 secondary or tertiary hospitals in Korea. Knowledge about epilepsy was assessed using 34 medical items (EKP-M) of the Epilepsy Knowledge Profile-General. Additional questionnaires included the Epilepsy Self-Efficacy Scale (ESES), Stigma Scale, and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). Multiple linear regression analyses were used.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean EKP-M score was 22.2 (SD: 4.1). By univariate analyses, the EKP-M was related to ESES (r=0.220, p<0.001) and HADS-D (r=-0.154, p<0.001) scores but not to the Stigma Scale or HADS-A. By linear regression analyses, after adjusting for the confounding variables, the higher EKP-M scores were independently related to both higher ESES (p<0.001) and lower HADS-D scores (p<0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Korean PWE have a relatively low level of knowledge about their condition. Knowledge about epilepsy is associated with a high level of self-efficacy and less depressive symptoms in affected individuals.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea. Electronic address: salee@amc.seoul.kr.
authors.forename: Sang-Ahm
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Severance Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Byung-In
authors.initials: BI
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000339:Affect; D001007:Anxiety / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology; D044466:Asian People; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003863:Depression / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D000069497:Origin of Life; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D056910:Republic of Korea; D020377:Self Efficacy; D057545:Social Stigma; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: Anxiety; Depression; Epilepsy; Knowledge; Quality of life; Self-efficacy; Stigma