Evaluation of state and trait anxiety levels of parents and children before electroencephalography procedures: A prospective study from a tertiary epilepsy center

Abstract

BackgroundInadequate or misinformation about electroencephalography (EEG) and epilepsy may lead to anxiety in children and their parents. The purpose of this study was to make a simultaneous evaluation of the anxiety levels of children and parents before EEG procedures and to make a brief assessment of their knowledge about EEG. Methods and materialsChildren aged between 8 and 18 years who were referred for EEG tests at Department of Pediatric Neurology, Gazi University Faculty of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey and their parents were included in the study, prospectively. Data were collected through Personal Information Forms; an EEG questionnaire form, which questioned the knowledge of the participants about EEG; the Spielberger's State–Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) to determine anxiety levels of the parents; and the State–Trait Anxiety Inventory for Children-State form (STAIC) to determine the anxiety levels of the children. The following parameters were collected in a database: demographic data about children and parents (sex, age), indication of suspected diagnosis on EEG request (i.e., the referral diagnosis), history of epilepsy, number of EEG recordings, and results of previous EEG recordings. The state and trait anxiety test results of the children were compared between the girls and boys, between age groups, and their parents' results in terms of both trait and state anxiety in terms of EEG, sex, ages, educational levels, and working. ResultsEighty-five children (mean age: 13.25 ± 3.02 years) and 85 parents (mean age: 41.16 ± 7.65 years) were included in the study. The children's mean trait anxiety score was 32.51 ± 8.09, and the mean state anxiety score was 34.97 ± 7.62. Half of the children who had a trait anxiety score of ≤30 points had increased state anxiety levels because they received more than 30 points in the state anxiety evaluation score. No significant differences were found between the boys and girls in terms of the state and trait anxiety scores (p > 0.05). The parents' mean trait anxiety score was 39.16 ± 7.74, and the mean state anxiety score was 42.74 ± 6.22. Forty (47%) parents were found to have trait anxiety, and 52 (61.2%) parents had state anxiety before the EEG. The trait anxiety score of the mothers was statistically significantly higher than that of the fathers (p < 0.01). The investigation of the knowledge level of both parents and children about EEG demonstrated some misunderstandings or points of insufficiency. ConclusionThe present study revealed that both parents and children had insufficient knowledge about EEG, and the procedure caused anxiety for both the parents and children. When EEG procedures are requested, parents and children should be given brief information about EEG and epilepsy. We think that in this way, the knowledge of both parents and children about this issue may be increased and their anxiety may be decreased.