Abstract
Objective
 With this study, we wanted to assess the knowledge, awareness and attitude towards epilepsy of the healthcare staff from one of the specialized hospitals in Dubai, United Arab Emirates
 Method
 A self-administered online questionnaire was sent to all the medical, nursing and paramedical staff of Medcare Women and Children Hospital in Dubai, United Arab Emirates which is one of the specialized hospitals in Dubai. The questionnaire had total seven sections including the demographic information of the responder.
 Results
 The data was collected electronically on secure computer. Out of total 120 requests, 88 responses were collected (73%). 69% were staff nurses and 6% were doctors including consultants and junior doctors. 97% of the responders claimed to have some knowledge of ‘epilepsy’ as the disease and some of them had seen or dealt with a patient with an epileptic seizure. However, majority felt that there was further need for more training in this area.
 Conclusion
 From our cohort, we found out that despite self-reported awareness and knowledge about epilepsy, there was still negative and inappropriate attitude towards this condition. So not only clinical knowledge, but there seems to be more need for correcting the attitudes and beliefs towards epilepsy even in the healthcare staff.
Highlights
Epilepsy is one of the most common neurological conditions, affecting nearly 50 million people worldwide [1]
From our cohort, we found out that despite self-reported awareness and knowledge about epilepsy, there was still a negative and inappropriate attitude towards this condition
We still come across seizures being treated with onion or shoe smell in many parts of society [4]. Such negative perception and attitude even exist in highly developed countries where patients with epilepsy face discriminatory behavior [5]
Summary
Epilepsy is one of the most common neurological conditions, affecting nearly 50 million people worldwide [1]. Lack of awareness and knowledge about this condition may be an important underlying cause The impact of such stigma can be even more harmful than the disease itself, affecting the quality of life of the patients. This negative attitude exists in the individuals with whom the affected person can come into contact on daily basis, such as schoolteachers or relatives, etc. We still come across seizures being treated with onion or shoe smell in many parts of society [4]. Such negative perception and attitude even exist in highly developed countries where patients with epilepsy face discriminatory behavior [5]
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