Abstracts

Rationale: The recent publication of the Institute of Medicine's report "Epilepsy Across the Spectrum: Promoting Health and Understanding" clearly outlines a gap in healthcare knowledge of epilepsy and its impact on patients. The aim of this study was to determine current knowledge among nursing staff in our institution of seizures and epilepsy, confidence in caring for and counseling patients with epilepsy with regards to safety issues. Methods: Photographs and data were collected throughout the year from some of our clinic and hospital patients demonstrating physical injuries sustained during a seizure. A 21 question anonymous survey was administered to 50 nurses across the institution including a selection of these photographs. Additionally, we included questions to evaluate confidence of nurses in caring for patients with seizures, understanding the potential for injury with seizures, as well as overall knowledge and confidence in teaching patients about safety issues. Results: Of the 50 nurses surveyed, nursing experience ranged from less than one year to greater than 35 years, with a median of 11.2 years in practice. Eighty to 88% of the nurses were able to correctly identify the photographs as injuries that could have resulted from a seizure. Seventy-eight percent of the nurses state they feel they would respond appropriately if they were caring for a patient who experienced a seizure. Overall knowledge of seizures and epilepsy ranged from 76-98% on topics of seizure type, common misconceptions and status epilepticus. Sixty-four percent of nurses were familiar with driving restrictions in the state of Kentucky, while 46% of the nurses state they routinely counsel their patients on safety issues. During this face-to-face survey, a variety of inquiries were made by nursing staff with regards to their specific patient population, identifying, also, a need for enhanced education regarding women with epilepsy, pregnancy and postnatal issues. Conclusions: The largest disparity identified in our institute was counseling of safety issues to people with seizures and epilepsy. Understanding these gaps will allow us to create appropriate teaching modules for both nurses and patients. Customized education modules aiming to address current gaps should impact and change current practice, enabling nurses to act as well informed lead educators and effect change across the community.