Public Awareness, Knowledge, and Attitude Toward Epilepsy in Lebanon: a Cross-sectional Study

Overview

Journal Front Neurol

Specialty Neurology

Date 2024 Dec 26

PMID 39722692

Authors

Samar Younes

Bahia Chahine

Venise Hanna

Nisreen Mourad

Farah Al Souheil

Nadia Al Mazrouei

Mohamad Rahal

Diana Malaeb

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Purpose: Epilepsy, a prevalent chronic neurological disorder, is associated with misconceptions, negative attitudes, and stigma because of poor public knowledge and awareness. Therefore, the purpose of the current study was to assess the knowledge, awareness, and attitudes toward epilepsy and its associated factors among the Lebanese general population.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on Lebanese adults between October 2021 and June 2022 using an electronic structured self-administered questionnaire that was circulated online using the different social media platforms. Data related to participants' demographic characteristics, knowledge, awareness, and attitude about epilepsy were measured. Eight items were included in the knowledge score that ranged between "0 and 16", five items were included in the awareness score and ranged between 0 and 10. Likewise, the attitude score was calculated from 14 items and the score ranged between "0 and 28". Data was analyzed using descriptive statistics, and logistic regression was employed to identify factors associated with knowledge and awareness of epilepsy.

Results: A total of 301 participants filled the questionnaire with a mean age of 28.68 and majority (66%) were females. The analyzed scores revealed that most of the participants (87.4%) had a good knowledge regarding epilepsy as a disease with mean of 10.2 (± 2.14), 70.1% had good awareness about epilepsy with mean of 6.3 (± 1.4), and 88% had good attitude toward patients with epilepsy with mean of 21.5 (± 6.2). Attending lecture about epilepsy was significantly associated with higher knowledge (OR 5.756, CI 95% 4.652-11.676,  < 0.001), better awareness (OR 4.936, CI 95% 3.062-10.566,  < 0.001) and attitude (OR 5.187, CI 95% 1.687-9.761,  < 0.014) toward the disease.

Conclusion: The findings of this study reflected an adequate knowledge and awareness, as well a positive attitude toward patients with epilepsy in Lebanon. However, there is a need for raising societal awareness and understanding of epilepsy to minimize the public misconceptions and reduce the stigma and discriminatory attitudes toward epileptic patients.

References

Beghi E . The Epidemiology of Epilepsy. Neuroepidemiology. 2019; 54(2):185-191. DOI: 10.1159/000503831. View

Walsh S, Donnan J, Fortin Y, Sikora L, Morrissey A, Collins K . A systematic review of the risks factors associated with the onset and natural progression of epilepsy. Neurotoxicology. 2016; 61:64-77. DOI: 10.1016/j.neuro.2016.03.011. View

Ghanean H, Nojomi M, Jacobsson L . Public awareness and attitudes towards epilepsy in Tehran, Iran. Glob Health Action. 2013; 6:21618. PMC: 3855600. DOI: 10.3402/gha.v6i0.21618. View

Wubetu A, Admasu Basha E, Engidaw N . Public Knowledge and Attitude towards Epilepsy and Its Associated Factors: Community-Based Cross-Sectional Study, Ethiopia, 2019. J Environ Public Health. 2020; 2020:6801979. PMC: 7382761. DOI: 10.1155/2020/6801979. View

Falavigna A, Teles A, Roth F, Velho M, Roxo M, Bosco A . Awareness, attitudes and perceptions on epilepsy in Southern Brazil. Arq Neuropsiquiatr. 2008; 65(4B):1186-91. DOI: 10.1590/s0004-282x2007000700018. View

. Global, regional, and national burden of epilepsy, 1990-2016: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2016. Lancet Neurol. 2019; 18(4):357-375. PMC: 6416168. DOI: 10.1016/S1474-4422(18)30454-X. View

Yang H, Chi Y, Zhu Z, Huang K, Xiang L, Xiao B . Attitudes Toward Epilepsy Among Parents of Children With Epilepsy in Southern China. Front Neurol. 2021; 11:602000. PMC: 7901895. DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2020.602000. View

Yildiz E, Sarac E . Investigation of knowledge and attitudes of military nurses about epilepsy. Epilepsy Behav. 2019; 102:106680. DOI: 10.1016/j.yebeh.2019.106680. View

Alsohibani A, Alkheder R, Alharbi M, Alrasheedi M, Alsoghair M, Alsuhaibani M . Public awareness, knowledge, and attitudes regarding epilepsy in the Qassim region, Saudi Arabia. Epilepsy Behav. 2019; 92:260-264. DOI: 10.1016/j.yebeh.2019.01.014. View

10.

Tarhini Z, Jost J, Ratsimbazafy V, Preux P, Salameh P, Al-Hajje A . Knowledge of epilepsy, quality of life, and psychiatric comorbidities in Lebanese adults with epilepsy. Epilepsy Behav. 2022; 136:108924. DOI: 10.1016/j.yebeh.2022.108924. View

11.

Benamer H, Grosset D . A systematic review of the epidemiology of epilepsy in Arab countries. Epilepsia. 2009; 50(10):2301-4. DOI: 10.1111/j.1528-1167.2009.02058.x. View

12.

Kim M, Kim I, Kim B, Cho K, Kim S, Moon J . Positive trends of public attitudes toward epilepsy after public education campaign among rural korean residents. J Korean Med Sci. 2003; 18(2):248-54. PMC: 3055013. DOI: 10.3346/jkms.2003.18.2.248. View

13.

Kankirawatana P . Epilepsy awareness among school teachers in Thailand. Epilepsia. 1999; 40(4):497-501. DOI: 10.1111/j.1528-1157.1999.tb00747.x. View

14.

Martiniuk A, Speechley K, Secco M, Campbell M . Development and psychometric properties of the Thinking about Epilepsy questionnaire assessing children's knowledge and attitudes about epilepsy. Epilepsy Behav. 2007; 10(4):595-603. DOI: 10.1016/j.yebeh.2007.01.011. View

15.

Muthaffar O, Jan M . Public awareness and attitudes toward epilepsy in Saudi Arabia is improving. Neurosciences (Riyadh). 2014; 19(2):124-6. View

16.

Pimentel J, Tojal R, Morgado J . Epilepsy and physical exercise. Seizure. 2014; 25:87-94. DOI: 10.1016/j.seizure.2014.09.015. View

17.

Murugupillai R, Wanigasinghe J, Muniyandi R, Arambepola C . Parental concerns towards children and adolescents with epilepsy in Sri Lanka--Qualitative study. Seizure. 2015; 34:6-11. DOI: 10.1016/j.seizure.2015.10.016. View

18.

Abou Zeki L, El Beaini C, Radwan W, El Hajj T . Quality of Life in Adult Patients With Epilepsy in Lebanon: A Cross-Sectional Study. Cureus. 2022; 14(10):e30254. PMC: 9652779. DOI: 10.7759/cureus.30254. View

19.

Elmazny A, Alzayani S, Shehata M, Magdy R . Knowledge, awareness, and attitudes towards epilepsy among elementary schoolteachers in the Kingdom of Bahrain. Eur J Paediatr Neurol. 2023; 47:13-17. DOI: 10.1016/j.ejpn.2023.08.001. View

20.

Baker G . The psychosocial burden of epilepsy. Epilepsia. 2002; 43 Suppl 6:26-30. DOI: 10.1046/j.1528-1157.43.s.6.12.x. View