All issues > Volume 52(5); 2009

Original Article

Korean J Pediatr. 2009;52(5):549-556. Published online May 15, 2009.

Assessment of parental understanding of epilepsy and effects of educational programs in an epilepsy camp

Sung Min SM Cho¹, Soon Hak SH Kwon², Doo Kwun DK Kim¹, Jun Sik JS Kim³, Han Koo HK Moon⁴, Hye-Eun HE Se², Kye Hyang KH Lee⁵, Eun Ju EJ Lee⁶, Jun Hwa JH Lee⁷, Nho Eun NE Kim⁸

¹Department of Pediatrics, Dongguk University College of Medicine, Gyeongju, Korea
²Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, Korea
³Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, Keimyung University, Daegu, Korea
⁴Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, Yeungnam University, Daegu, Korea
⁵Deptment of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, Catholic University of Daegu, Daegu, Korea
⁶Department of Pediatrics, Daegu Fatima Hospital, Daegu, Korea
⁷Department of Pediatrics, Masan Samsung Hospital, College of Medicine, Sungkyunkwan University, Masan, Korea
⁸Graduate School of Social Welfare, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, Korea

Correspondence Sung Min SM Cho ,Email: smchoped@hotmail.com

Abstract

Purpose
: To assess parental knowledge and understanding of epilepsy including social stigma and evaluate the effects of educational programs on parents in an epilepsy camp.
Methods
: We conducted an epilepsy camp on August 23-24, 2008, at Gyeongsan. Twenty families with an epileptic child each participated in the camp. We performed a survey before and after the camp to obtain data concerning parental understanding of epilepsy and the effects of the camp-based educational programs on the parents. The data were analyzed with SPSS 14.0 using frequency analysis.
Results
: The parents were sufficiently knowledgeable about epilepsy before the camp, and their knowledge and understanding of epilepsy improved further after the camp. Both perceived stigma and enacted stigma against epilepsy were found in 30.0% of the parents. The perceived stigma decreased to 15.0% after the camp.
Conclusion
: This study suggests that social approaches such as epilepsy camps are effective in improving parental knowledge and understanding about epilepsy as well as decreasing their perceived social stigma.

Keywords :Education, Epilepsy, Parents