Volume 27, Issue 142, December 2023

Knowledge, attitude and practice of epilepsy among secondary school teachers in Bisha, Saudi Arabia 2023

Amar Ibrahim Omer Yahia¹, Saeed Nasser A Alaklabi², Saad Ali M Alqarni², Abdullah Fahad F Alhalafi², Hadi M Albalhsn², Abdurrhamn Obaid Almodaf³

¹Unit of Pathology, Department of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, University of Bisha, Bisha, Saudi Arabia
²College of Medicine, University of Bisha, Bisha, Saudi Arabia
³College of Medicine, University of Jeddah, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

ABSTRACT

Background: Epilepsy, a chronic brain disease causing recurrent seizures, remains significantly undiagnosed despite its common occurrence. Methods: this study aimed to assess 501 secondary school teachers' knowledge, attitude, and practice concerning epilepsy in Bisha, Saudi Arabia. Using systematic random sampling, a descriptive cross-sectional study collected data via an online questionnaire. Results: Findings revealed a good level of knowledge among teachers, albeit with a noticeable gap in understanding infections as a cause of epilepsy. Gender showed a significant association with knowledge levels (P=0.03). Conclusion: Most teachers held a positive attitude toward epilepsy, with age and teaching experience correlating significantly (P=0.03) with attitude levels. Although teachers often aided students during seizures, schools lacked effective strategies. Recommendations include providing epilepsy first aid training for teachers, establishing on-site clinics, and conducting educational campaigns to enhance awareness and preparedness.

Keywords: Epilepsy, Knowledge, Attitude, Practice, Secondary school teachers, Bisha, Saudi Arabia

Medical Science, 2023, 27, e393ms3255

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DOI: https://doi.org/10.54905/disssi.v27i142.e393ms3255

Published: 27 December 2023