Attitudes of Brazilian psychiatrists toward people with epilepsy (original) (raw)
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Knowledge about epilepsy among health professionals: a cross-sectional survey in S��o Paulo, Brazil
2012
Professionals with academic degrees in physical education (n¼134), nutrition (n¼116), medicine (n¼100), psychology (n¼53), nursing (n¼122) and physiotherapy (n¼99) who lived in São Paulo City, Brazil. Primary and secondary outcome measures: Knowledge of health professionals about epilepsy. Methods: Professionals with academic degrees in physical education (n¼134), nutrition (n¼116), medicine (n¼100), psychology (n¼53), nursing (n¼122) and physiotherapy (n¼99) who lived in São Paulo City, Brazil, were invited to participate in the study. The subjects (n¼624) answered a questionnaire composed of 25 simple closed-ended questions from three areas: personal, educational and knowledge. Results: Out of all subjects, 88.5% (n¼552) had a postgraduate education, while 11.5% (n¼72) had only an undergraduate degree. The authors found that physical educators, nutritionists and physiotherapists received lower scores on their epilepsy knowledge than other health professionals. Conclusions: Health professionals are considered better-educated group inside the society, especially with regards to healthcare issues. Thus, it is important they also have an accurate and correct knowledge about epilepsy. The findings of the present study indicate an imperative improvement in education about epilepsy, as well as an inclusion of formal programmes for epilepsy education especially for non-medical professionals. An improvement in epilepsy education might contribute to an improvement in epilepsy care and management.
Awareness and attitudes on epilepsy among undergraduate health care students in Southern Brazil
Journal of Epilepsy and Clinical Neurophysiology, 2009
To evaluate the awareness on epilepsy among undergraduate health care students in a private university. Methods: A self-administered questionnaire about epilepsy was applied to 417 students at Universidade de Caxias do Sul. The answers were analyzed in two groups: group 1, medical and nursing students; group 2, psychology, physiotherapy and nutrition students. Results: Most of the students were familiar with the disease. Although many of them recognize brain disease as a cause of seizure, it was observed that a quarter of them linked epilepsy with mental disease. Besides, a relevant portion of the sample presents mistaken attitudes on seizure management. Conclusion: There is lack of information on epilepsy among these students. The students and the health care professionals are important vectors of information. Therefore, further discussion on this subject is necessary in health care training to demystify some aspects concerning the disease.
Awareness, attitudes and perceptions on epilepsy in Southern Brazil
Arquivos De Neuro-psiquiatria, 2007
OBJECTIVE: To verify awareness and attitudes toward epilepsy in Southern Brazil. METHOD: A questionnaire about familiarity with the disease, awareness and attitudes toward epileptics was applied to 832 inhabitants of Caxias do Sul. The answers were analyzed in three different groups: G1, non-university students; G2, university students up to the second year; and G3, university students with more than two years education and university graduates. RESULTS: University students and graduates are better informed regarding causes and treatment of epilepsy. Moreover, those interviewees present less negative attitudes toward epileptics. However, a large part of that group lacks some basic information on the disease. CONCLUSION: There is lack of information on epilepsy among Brazilians. Education campaigns should be carried out in order to clarify some aspects concerning epilepsy.
Journal of Epilepsy and Clinical Neurophysiology, 2009
Introduction: Epilepsy is very prevalent in our society, but unfortunately lack of knowledge is still very common, contributing to psycho-social difficulties to people with epilepsy. Purpose: The aim of this study was to assess the epilepsy' perception and attitudes by professionals of emergency medical service in Campinas, Brazil. Material and methods: This study was carried out with professionals of SAMU-192, who participated on the VII Stroke Workshop of Campinas in November 2007. Results: One hundred-forty nine (149) professionals answered the questionnaire (49% women, average age of 37 years, range from 21 to 59 year). Ninety (60%) were professionals allied to medicine (nurses, health auxiliary, dentists), six (4%) were physicians and 53 (36%) were other professions (secretary, driver). In overall, a great majority of the subjects had an appropriate knowledge regarding epilepsy. But, some beliefs are still present. In relation to epilepsy' perception, some wrong ideas appeared, as epilepsy is a contagious disease, people with epilepsy can not practice physical exercise or to work. Also, the doubts regarding pregnancy and treatment of epilepsy were observed. Regarding attitudes during an epileptic seizure, some inadequate attitudes appeared: to put something in patient's mouth, to restrict the patients' movements or give something strong to smell (alcohol or vinegar) in order to stop the seizure. Conclusion: In this context, it is necessary a continuous education programs to the allied health professionals to improve the perception and attitudes, bringing epilepsy out of the shadows.
Demonstration project on epilepsy in Brazil: situation assessment
Arquivos de Neuro- …, 2007
PURPOSE: To provide a situation assessment of services for people with epilepsy in the context of primary health care, as part of the Demonstration Project on Epilepsy in Brazil, part of the WHO/ILAE/IBE Global Campaign 'Epilepsy out of the shadows'. METHODS: We performed a door-to-door epidemiological survey in three areas to assess the prevalence of epilepsy and its treatment gap. We surveyed a sample of 598 primary health care workers from different regions of Brazil to assess their perceptions of the management of people with epilepsy in the primary care setting. RESULTS: The lifetime prevalence of epilepsy was 9.2/1,000 people [95% CI 8.4-10.0] and the estimated prevalence of active epilepsy was 5.4/1,000 people. Thirty-eight percent of patients with active epilepsy were on inadequate treatment, including 19% who were taking no medication. The survey of health workers showed that they estimated that 60% of patients under their care were seizure-free. They estimated that 55% of patients were on monotherapy and that 59% had been referred to neurologists. The estimated mean percentage of patients who were working or studying was 56%. Most of the physicians (73%) did not feel confident in managing people with epilepsy. DISCUSSION: The epidemiological survey in the areas of the Demonstration Project showed that the prevalence of epilepsy is similar to that in other resource-poor countries, and that the treatment gap is high. One factor contributing to the treatment gap is inadequacy of health care delivery. The situation could readily be improved in Brazil, as the primary health care system has the key elements required for epilepsy management. To make this effective and efficient requires: i) an established referral network, ii) continuous provision of AEDs, iii) close monitoring of epilepsy management via the notification system (Sistema de Informação da Atenção Básica - SIAB) and iv) continuous education of health professionals. The educational program should be broad spectrum and include not only medical management, but also psycho-social aspects of epilepsy.
The patient with epilepsy and medicolegal aspects: a view for the neurologist
Arquivos de Neuro-Psiquiatria, 2019
Patients with epilepsy face innumerable obstacles in daily life, related to work, permission to drive and interpersonal relationships, which require medical guidance. This paper reports a literature review based on scientific articles and civil and traffic system, as a way to resolve doubts about medical obligations in the patient's permission to drive and work. An employment agreement requires the contractor to guarantee safety conditions as well as requiring the patient, at the pre-employment medical examination, to let the physician know previous medical conditions, including epilepsy. More than 90% of patients with epilepsy omit this information during the application assessment, thus being subject to imputation of ideological falsehood crime as disposied on article 299 of Brazilian Penal Code. Medical confidentiality breaches may only occur in specific situations. In Brazil, the authorization and driver's license renewal is governed by the Brazilian Traffic Code (Federal Law n° 9503/1997). For patient evaluations, two groups are considered: those on antiepileptic medication and those on medication withdrawal. A favorable report from the attending physician is also required, in both categories. Seizures that occur exclusively during sleep, and focal aware events or prolonged aura are not differentiated from other seizure types disposed in the traffic law. It is the responsibility of the attending physician to analyze each patient individually to resolve conflicts between public safety and the individual patient's independence. A frank and honest doctor-patient relationship is essential for the patient to understand the public and individual consequences of epileptic seizures and to feel comfortable seeking medical help.