Stigma and attitudes on epilepsy a study: with secondary school students

Arquivos de Neuro-Psiquiatria

Brenda A. Reno²  Paula T. Fernandes²  Gail S. Bell¹  Josemir W. Sander¹  Li M. Li² 

[1] ,UNICAMP Faculty of Medicine Department of NeurologyCampinas SP ,Brazil

关键词: stigma;    epilepsy;    attitudes;    behaviour;    quality of life;    estigma;    epilepsia;    atitudes;    comportamento;    qualidade de vida;   

DOI  :  10.1590/S0004-282X2007001000008

来源: SciELO

【 摘 要 】

PURPOSE: To evaluate whether an inappropriate attitude towards a person having an epileptic seizure contributes to the stigma found in society and whether an appropriate attitude helps to diminish it in the short term; to perform a long term investigation about information remembered and stigma perception after an educational lecture. METHOD: This study was performed in two steps: Step 1. Students of first year of high school of two schools in Campinas completed a questionnaire including the Stigma Scale of Epilepsy following a seizure demonstration. They were divided into three groups: a) one group had a demonstration of proper attitudes towards someone having an epileptic seizure; b) one group was shown incorrect procedures; c) control group. After the completion of the questionnaire, an educational lecture about epilepsy was given. Step 2: six months later, the questionnaire was re-administered. RESULTS: The comparison between the four groups (step 1 and step 2) show a significant difference (Anova (3,339)=2.77; p=0.042). Pairwise comparison using Fisher's Least-Significant-Difference Test showed a significant difference between the group shown incorrect procedures (step 1) versus step 2, and the control group (step 1) versus step 2, but no difference between the group shown correct procedures (step 1) versus step 2. DISCUSSION: Exhibiting proper attitudes towards a person experiencing an epileptic seizure may cause significant differences among the subjects’ degrees of stigma towards people with epilepsy. It is therefore fundamental that there should be de-stigmatization campaigns provided, to correct information and provide appropriate education.

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