Knowledge, Attitude and Anxiety in Mothers of Children with Epilepsy

Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate levels and correlations of epilepsy specific knowledge, attitude and anxiety in mothers of children with epilepsy. Methods: Participants were 176 mothers of children with epilepsy living in B and Y cities. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, t-test, ANOVA, and Pearson correlation coefficients with the SPSS 21.0 program. Results: Participants scored 57.2 (±1.7) out of 100 points on epilepsy-related knowledge; 35.6 (±5.0) out of 48 points on attitude toward epilepsy; 58.1 (±15.3) out of 85 on anxiety related to a child’s epileptic condition. The participants had higher levels of epilepsy-related knowledge if their family monthly income was three million KRW or higher (t=-2.92, p=.004); if there was no side effect from the medication (t=-2.91, p=.004); and if the mothers’ perception of the child’s health was good (F=6.181, p=.001). There was a positive correlation between knowledge and attitude related to epilepsy (r=.321, p<.001), and a negative correlation between knowledge and anxiety (r=-.257, p=.001). Conclusion: Findings indicate that interventions which reduce mothers’ anxiety by providing epilepsy specific knowledge and help to achieve more positive attitudes to better ways of coping with child’s disease.

Keywords

• Epilepsy
• Mothers
• Knowledge
• Attitude
• Anxiety