Evaluating the knowledge of and attitudes toward epilepsy among Turkish undergraduate nursing students: A cross-sectional study

Abstract

Aim: This study was conducted to examine the knowledge of and attitudes toward epilepsy among nursing students. Method: This descriptive and cross-sectional study was conducted with 369 nursing students. Data were collected through an anonymous online questionnaire prepared using the Introductory Information Form, Epilepsy Knowledge Scale (EKS), and Epilepsy Attitude Scale (EAS). Descriptive statistics, the Mann-Whitney U test, Student's t test, one-way ANOVA, and Pearson correlation test were used in the data analysis. A p value of 0.05 was considered the threshold for statistical significance. Findings: The sample of the study consisted of nursing students, and more than half of the students (63.4%) were females. 32.2% of the students were third-year students, and the mean age was 21.36 +/- 2.12 years. The mean scores obtained on the EKS and the EAS were 10.03 +/- 33.21 and 56.39 +/- 5.40, respectively. A significant positive correlation was found between the knowledge and attitude scores of the students regarding epilepsy (p < 0.05), and students' attitude scores toward epilepsy increased with increased knowledge of the subject matter. Overall, female students had better knowledge levels and a more positive attitude toward epilepsy than male students (p < 0.05). Further, the students who had witnessed an epileptic seizure, knew someone with epilepsy, or provided care for patients with epilepsy, had higher scores on the EKS, and displayed better knowledge toward epilepsy (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Nursing students were found to have moderate knowledge of and a positive attitude toward epilepsy. The positive attitude toward epilepsy increased with the increasing knowledge of epilepsy. (c) 2021 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.