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Knowledge, attitudes, and first‐aid measures about epilepsy among primary school teachers in northern Iran
Author(s) -
Kolahi A.A.,
GhorbanpurValukolaei M.,
AbbasiKangevari M.,
Farsar A.R.
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
acta neurologica scandinavica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.967
H-Index - 95
eISSN - 1600-0404
pISSN - 0001-6314
DOI - 10.1111/ane.12917
Subject(s) - epilepsy , likert scale , cross sectional study , first aid , simple random sample , family medicine , psychology , scale (ratio) , general knowledge , knowledge level , medicine , school teachers , medical education , psychiatry , environmental health , population , developmental psychology , mathematics education , geography , cartography , pathology , medical emergency
Objective To assess knowledge, attitudes, and first‐aid measures about epilepsy among primary school teachers. Method This cross‐sectional study was conducted with participation of 342 primary school teachers during September 2016 to January 2017 in cities of Babol and Qaem‐Shahr in Mazandaran Province in northern Iran. Primary schools were selected using simple random sampling. Data were collected through interviews using a structured questionnaire. The knowledge section included general knowledge, causes, symptoms, seizure triggers, first‐aid measures, and recommended treatments. The Likert scale was used for the attitudes section. Answers about first‐aid measures were categorized as helpful or harmful. Results The level of total knowledge score of 25 (7.7%) teachers was very high, 140 (43.3%) high, 141 (43.8%) moderate, and 17 (5.2%) low. The mean score about general knowledge was as follows: 6.1 (1.9), range = 0‐9; causes 6.3 (1.9), range = 0‐10; symptoms of seizures 8.5 (2.5), range = 0‐12; and first‐aid measures 6.8 (2.0), range = 0‐11. Some 83% knew not taking anticonvulsants regularly could trigger seizures, and all teachers said a person with epilepsy should go see a physician. Attitudes were generally positive except for marriage and having children. The level of first‐aid measures score of 8 (7.2) teachers was very high, 79 (70.5) high, 25 (22.3) low. Teachers with teaching experience at special schools took more helpful measures Conclusions The knowledge of teachers about epilepsy was insufficient, attitudes toward people with epilepsy were generally positive, and first‐aid measures at the last witnessed seizure were fairly helpful. Having teaching experience in special schools had a positive influence over knowledge and taking appropriate first‐aid measure at time of the last witnessed seizure.