Abstracts

Rationale: To evaluate trough questionnaires the knowledge about epilepsy of Elementary School teachers obtained in the Promising Strategies Program Epilepsy at school. Teaching the teachers. of Associa o Brasileira de Epilepsia (ABE), which is the official Brazilian branch of International Bureau for Epilepsy. Methods: ABE developed a questionnaire composed by 35 multiple-choice questions concerning: concepts, definition and causes of epilepsy (10); treatment and adverse effects of antiepileptic medication (10); popular stigma about epilepsy (5); activities of people with epilepsy (PWE) (5); and finally, first-aid during epileptic seizures (5). Questionnaire was presented in phase (ph) 1 to teachers before the lecture Epilepsy: Causes, Symptoms and Treatment given by a health professional from ABE trough classical live class (CC) or by video-conference (VC) on Rede do Saber s site (http://www.rededosaber.sp.gov.br/portais/Not ciasConte do/tabid/369/language/pt-BR/IDNoticia/851/Default.aspx) and in ph 2 afterwards. Results were compared to a control group of 65 teachers that did not attend any lecture. Results: Classical class was given in 4 cities of Brazil and VC was performed in state of Sao Paulo and it was transmitted to 74 cities, including Sao Paulo city, this latter with 12 sites. 1153 teachers were instructed either by CC 25% (288) or VC 75% (865). Most (78.5%) were female, aged between 18-68 years (mean 41.4) and had 12-18 years of education; 76.6% attended University and 21.1%, graduate studies; 50% affirmed to know PWE. Mean of right answers in ph 1 in CC was 78.4% ( 10.1) and VC, 79.8% ( 8.6) and in ph 2 in CC, 86.5% ( 6.4) and VC, 86.8% ( 7.1), reflecting increased knowledge in ph 2 (p<0.001) in both strategies (controls: ph 1, 78.2% 7.4; ph 2, 79.6% 8.6; p>0.05). Comparison of variability of combined action (CC VC) between ph 1 (79.5% 8.6) and 2 (86.8% 6.8) was 9.9% 13.9 (p<0.001) (control group 2.3% 10.2; p<0.001, compared to CC VC). The topics popular stigma and first aid during seizures had the lowest correct scores in ph 1 (CC VC), 74.6% and 72.8%, respectively (controls 78.8 10.2 and 67.9 17.5). The highest gain (35.6%) in ph 2 was observed in first aid (controls 0.8 27.2, p<0.001) and the lowest (0.1%), in popular stigma (controls 1.7 26.4, p>0.05). There was a significant variation in the topic first aid in CC, 41.1% compared to VC, 33.3% (p=0.009). Conclusions: The educational plan of Associa o Brasileira de Epilepsia revealed good performance of teachers of Elementary School without significant differences between presentation modalities (CC/VC), although CC was more efficient to teach first aid during epileptic seizures. Popular stigma about epilepsy knowledge has not improved after the lectures and this subject still needs further research and efforts for better understanding and action planning. Support: International Bureau for Epilepsy, Companhia de Seguros Alian a do Brasil, Secretaria de Educa o do Estado de S o Paulo.