Knowledge and Attitude About Epilepsy Among School Teachers in Madinah, Saudi Arabia

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE Epilepsy is one of the most common chronic neurological disorders affecting school-age children. School teachers play an essential role in the life and development of patients with epilepsy. Hence, adequate knowledge of and positive attitudes toward epilepsy among school teachers are critical. This study assessed the knowledge of and attitude toward epilepsy among primary, middle, and high school teachers in Madinah, Saudi Arabia. METHOD This cross-sectional study was conducted using a self-administered electronic questionnaire to assess the knowledge and attitude about epilepsy among 394 teachers from local schools.  Results: Most of the participants were female (64.7%). About 32.2% of the participants had experience teaching children with epilepsy. The mean score for knowledge about epilepsy was 8.2 out of 13. Regarding attitudes toward epilepsy, most participants (93.4%) had positive attitudes toward students with epilepsy. There is a strong correlation between experience and attitude toward epilepsy. Most of the participants lacked adequate first aid training and felt unprepared to deal with a child with a seizure. CONCLUSION Most school teachers in Madinah had positive attitudes toward epilepsy patients. Although they had a basic understanding of epilepsy, there were gaps in their knowledge, and they lacked adequate training and confidence in assisting a child with a seizure. Therefore, it is essential to implement education and training programs aimed at improving their knowledge and confidence in dealing with students with epilepsy.