Ab Fatah Ab Rahman1. 1. Clinical Pharmacy Program, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Minden, 11800 USM Pulau Pinang, Malaysia. abfatahmy@yahoo.com
Abstract
PURPOSE: University students represent a better-educated group of society and it is important that they possess the correct knowledge and attitude towards healthcare issues. The aim of this study was to determine the current level of awareness and knowledge of epilepsy among students at a public university in Malaysia. METHODS: A survey was conducted within the main campus of the Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM), Penang, Malaysia. Students were required to answer a series of questions on awareness and knowledge of epilepsy. The questionnaire was written in the Malay language. RESULTS: Over a one-week period, 289 students completed the self-administered questionnaire. It was found that 86.5% of students had heard or read about epilepsy, while 55.6% had observed an epileptic seizure. Only 30.7% said that they knew the cause of epilepsy and 5.3% thought epilepsy was caused by evil spirits. Epilepsy was considered hereditary by 66.9% of respondents, while 4.9% thought it was contagious. Furthermore, 60% of students did not think that epilepsy was a shameful illness. CONCLUSIONS: The findings indicate a generally favorable level of awareness and knowledge of epilepsy among students at the university. Nevertheless, there is still a need to improve certain aspects of knowledge and understanding of epilepsy among university students.
PURPOSE: University students represent a better-educated group of society and it is important that they possess the correct knowledge and attitude towards healthcare issues. The aim of this study was to determine the current level of awareness and knowledge of epilepsy among students at a public university in Malaysia. METHODS: A survey was conducted within the main campus of the Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM), Penang, Malaysia. Students were required to answer a series of questions on awareness and knowledge of epilepsy. The questionnaire was written in the Malay language. RESULTS: Over a one-week period, 289 students completed the self-administered questionnaire. It was found that 86.5% of students had heard or read about epilepsy, while 55.6% had observed an epilepticseizure. Only 30.7% said that they knew the cause of epilepsy and 5.3% thought epilepsy was caused by evil spirits. Epilepsy was considered hereditary by 66.9% of respondents, while 4.9% thought it was contagious. Furthermore, 60% of students did not think that epilepsy was a shameful illness. CONCLUSIONS: The findings indicate a generally favorable level of awareness and knowledge of epilepsy among students at the university. Nevertheless, there is still a need to improve certain aspects of knowledge and understanding of epilepsy among university students.
Authors: Rodrigo Luiz Vancini; Ana Amélia Benedito-Silva; Bolivar Saldanha Sousa; Sergio Gomes da Silva; Maria Iones Souza-Vancini; Cássia Regina Vancini-Campanharo; Francisco Romero Cabral; Cristiano de Lima; Claudio Andre Barbosa de Lira Journal: BMJ Open Date: 2012-04-19 Impact factor: 2.692
Authors: Salah Sabry Shihata; Turki Salah Abdullah; Abdulrahman Mansour Alfaidi; Ammar Ali Alasmari; Talal Mansour Alfaidi; Anas Essa Bifari; Wisam H Jamal; Hisham A Rizk Journal: SAGE Open Med Date: 2021-01-28