Effect of Educational Program on Frequency of Epileptic Attacks and Self-Efficacy for Adolescents

Abstract

Background: Epilepsy is the most common chronic neurological condition and very serious among adolescents. Aim: The study was aimed to evaluate the effect of educational program on frequency of epileptic attacks and self-efficacy for adolescents. Through the following: assessing adolescents’ knowledge with epilepsy and frequency of epileptic attacks, designing, implementing and evaluating the effect of epilepsy teaching booklet on self-efficacy for adolescents’ with epilepsy. Methods: A quasi-experimental (pre/post-test) design was utilized to conduct this study at Students' Hospitals affiliated to South Valley University Hospitals, in Qena. A purposive sample of 60 adolescents with age ranged from 12-18 years of both sexes, had a history of epilepsy at least for 6 months duration, and free from sever communication or cognitive impairment was included in the study as a single study group. Three tools were utilized in this study: the first tool was structured interview questionnaire, it had two parts; interview questionnaire sheet to assess the adolescents’ sociodemographic characteristics and clinical data about epilepsy. The second tool was Epilepsy Knowledge's Scale (EKS), and the third tool was Epilepsy Self-efficacy Scale (ESES).Teaching booklet was premeditated as reference for adolescents. Results: There were statistically significant differences between mean scores of the pre and post implementation of the educational program as regards adolescents’ knowledge regarding frequency of epileptic attacks and self-efficacy with epilepsy. Conclusions: there were a lack of adolescents' knowledge of epilepsy and frequency of epileptic attacks before implementing the teaching booklet of adolescents' self-efficacy. While, there were an improvement in the adolescents’ knowledge was observed after implementation of the teaching booklet which had a positive effect on improving the adolescents’ knowledge as regards minimizing and control frequency of epileptic attacks and maximizing adolescents ‘self-efficacy. The study recommended a periodically educational program planned and offered on regular basis for adolescents’ with epileptic attacks.