Semiologic seizure classification: The effectiveness of a modular education program for health professionals in pediatrics

Abstract

We tested the effectiveness of a modular education program on Semiologic Seizure Classification (SSC) in helping health professionals in pediatrics correctly recognize seizures in childhood. The study samples included 20 residents, 20 nurses, and 10 EEG technicians working in pediatrics. The study was conducted in two steps. First, a modular education program comprising CD-ROMs including 58 video clips of epileptic seizures designed for the original SSC was developed. Second, each participant took a pretest by viewing the pretest CD-ROM, participated in the modular education program with a CD-ROM, and finally took a posttest with the posttest CD-ROM. The pretest scores were found to be low in each subgroup of the study population: the average scores were 8 for the residents (minimum 4–maximum 10), 2 for the nurses (min 0–max 4), and 2.5 for the EEG technicians (min 0–max 8). After participating in the modular education program, correct recognition of seizures increased in the posttest: the average scores were 15.5 for the residents (min 9–max 20), 15 for the nurses (min 13–max 20), and 13.5 for the EEG technicians (min 3–max 19). The increase in the scores in the subgroups and in all study groups in general was found to be statistically significant ( P < 0.05). The modular education program developed for SSC was found to be highly effective in teaching health professionals working in general pediatric clinics to correctly recognize seizure types.