Epilepsy knowledge and attitudes: A large observational study among the Palestinian general public
Background: Epileptic seizures are often misunderstood as supernatural power or satanic possession in different cultures around the world. Therefore, people with epilepsy (PWE) suffer discrimination, prejudice, and stigma. The epilepsy knowledge and attitude (EKA) of the Palestinian general public w...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2024-01-01
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| Series: | Heliyon |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405844023109157 |
| _version_ | 1797336967831093248 |
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| author | Ramzi Shawahna |
| author_facet | Ramzi Shawahna |
| author_sort | Ramzi Shawahna |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: Epileptic seizures are often misunderstood as supernatural power or satanic possession in different cultures around the world. Therefore, people with epilepsy (PWE) suffer discrimination, prejudice, and stigma. The epilepsy knowledge and attitude (EKA) of the Palestinian general public were not assessed before. Therefore, this study assessed the EKA of the Palestinian general public. In addition, the study identified the characteristics that were associated with EKA. Methods: This was a large cross-sectional study that was conducted using a self-administered instrument. The study participants were invited and recruited from the Palestinian general public. The EKA were assessed using 16 knowledge items and 13 attitude items. Results: In this study, responses were collected from 746 participants. Knowledge scores were significantly associated with having a university degree, satisfaction with household income, adequate knowledge about epilepsy, having acquaintances with epilepsy, and having witnessed someone experiencing epileptic seizures. Attitude scores were significantly associated with living in urban areas, being married, having a university degree, satisfaction with household income, adequate knowledge about epilepsy, having acquaintances with epilepsy, and having witnessed someone experiencing epileptic seizures. Conclusion: Large knowledge gaps and negative attitudes toward PWE were identified among the Palestinian general public. These findings might be considered a call to increase knowledge and correct negative attitudes toward PWE. Decision-makers need to design and implement effective measures to increase knowledge and correct negative attitudes toward PWE. Further studies are still needed to assess the effectiveness of these measures in increasing knowledge and positive attitudes toward PWE. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-08T09:02:33Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-74a8886d85134e399ac68a2c00d738db |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2405-8440 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-08T09:02:33Z |
| publishDate | 2024-01-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Heliyon |
| spelling | doaj.art-74a8886d85134e399ac68a2c00d738db2024-02-01T06:33:03ZengElsevierHeliyon2405-84402024-01-01101e23707Epilepsy knowledge and attitudes: A large observational study among the Palestinian general publicRamzi Shawahna0Department of Physiology, Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, An-Najah National University, Nablus, Palestine; Clinical Research Center, An-Najah National University Hospital, Nablus, PalestineBackground: Epileptic seizures are often misunderstood as supernatural power or satanic possession in different cultures around the world. Therefore, people with epilepsy (PWE) suffer discrimination, prejudice, and stigma. The epilepsy knowledge and attitude (EKA) of the Palestinian general public were not assessed before. Therefore, this study assessed the EKA of the Palestinian general public. In addition, the study identified the characteristics that were associated with EKA. Methods: This was a large cross-sectional study that was conducted using a self-administered instrument. The study participants were invited and recruited from the Palestinian general public. The EKA were assessed using 16 knowledge items and 13 attitude items. Results: In this study, responses were collected from 746 participants. Knowledge scores were significantly associated with having a university degree, satisfaction with household income, adequate knowledge about epilepsy, having acquaintances with epilepsy, and having witnessed someone experiencing epileptic seizures. Attitude scores were significantly associated with living in urban areas, being married, having a university degree, satisfaction with household income, adequate knowledge about epilepsy, having acquaintances with epilepsy, and having witnessed someone experiencing epileptic seizures. Conclusion: Large knowledge gaps and negative attitudes toward PWE were identified among the Palestinian general public. These findings might be considered a call to increase knowledge and correct negative attitudes toward PWE. Decision-makers need to design and implement effective measures to increase knowledge and correct negative attitudes toward PWE. Further studies are still needed to assess the effectiveness of these measures in increasing knowledge and positive attitudes toward PWE.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405844023109157EpilepsySeizuresKnowledgeAttitudePalestine |
| spellingShingle | Ramzi Shawahna Epilepsy knowledge and attitudes: A large observational study among the Palestinian general public Heliyon Epilepsy Seizures Knowledge Attitude Palestine |
| title | Epilepsy knowledge and attitudes: A large observational study among the Palestinian general public |
| title_full | Epilepsy knowledge and attitudes: A large observational study among the Palestinian general public |
| title_fullStr | Epilepsy knowledge and attitudes: A large observational study among the Palestinian general public |
| title_full_unstemmed | Epilepsy knowledge and attitudes: A large observational study among the Palestinian general public |
| title_short | Epilepsy knowledge and attitudes: A large observational study among the Palestinian general public |
| title_sort | epilepsy knowledge and attitudes a large observational study among the palestinian general public |
| topic | Epilepsy Seizures Knowledge Attitude Palestine |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405844023109157 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT ramzishawahna epilepsyknowledgeandattitudesalargeobservationalstudyamongthepalestiniangeneralpublic |