Doctors' perspectives of epilepsy.

This study reports the results of a questionnaire designed specifically to define doctors' perspectives of epilepsy. Sixty-two percent of the registered junior medical staff of a major Australian teaching hospital responded to a questionnaire that established information regarding doctor identification, cognition concerning epilepsy and its management, and doctors' attitudes. The results gave evidence of a lack of knowledge regarding epilepsy and its management, as well as a lack of ability to maintain critical evaluation of new material. Many of the negative attitudes about people with epilepsy that have been identified within the general community were also found within the medical profession. This study determined that there is a real need to reappraise the approach to teaching the medical profession about epilepsy.