Improving Epilepsy Education in LMIC Schools: A Study to Improve and Measure Epilepsy Awareness in Pakistan and India
Abstract number :
1.407
Submission category :
17. Public Health
Year :
2023
Submission ID :
510
Source :
www.aesnet.org
Presentation date :
12/2/2023 12:00:00 AM
Published date :
Authors :
Presenting Author: Noor Sabha, MD, Research volunteer – Duke University Hospital
Muhammad Zafar, MD, FACNS – Pediatrics and Neurology – Duke University Hospital; Roshni Dhoot, MD, PGY-3 – Duke University Hospital; Cordelia Hume, Student – Duke University; Sweta Dubey, MD, PGY-1 – SUNY Downstate Health Science University; Lekha Karthikeyan, MD, PGY-1 – Henry Ford Health; Julie Hwang, MSc – University of North Carolina; Shaheen Mohammed, MD, PGY-1 – University of Buffalo; Saqib Ali Khan, Intern – M.S Ramaiah Hospital; Abrar Haq, Intern – M.S Ramaiah Hospital; Wajeeha Khalid, MD, Research Volunteer – Duke University Hospital; Huzra Sana, Intern – M.S Ramaiah Hospital; Mohammed Abdullah, Intern – M.S Ramaiah Hospital; Aqsa Khizer, Student – Shahida Islam Medical College, Lodhran; Asra Khizer, Student – Baqai Medical University, Karachi; Maira Usman, Student – Beaconhouse Palm Tree Campus, Gujranwala
Rationale: This study aims to assess the baseline knowledge about epilepsy, evaluate the effectiveness of seizure education material, understand preconceived beliefs about epilepsy, identify gaps in knowledge and conduct seizure awareness interventions designed to teach seizure first aid in school settings in LMIC.
Methods: We held an in-person educational session by volunteers in seven schools (four private and three public) in Gujranwala, Lahore, Karachi and Dera Ghazi Khan, Pakistan (n = 640; ages 10–15 yrs) and seven private schools in Bangalore, Ahmedabad and Guntur, India (n=679; ages 10-15 yrs). We also distributed two types of flyers: one with a seizure action plan and another with a factsheet on epilepsy, both in English and a local language. To measure educational outcomes, we conducted pre and post surveys with six to seven open-ended and multiple-choice questions regarding baseline knowledge, stigma around epilepsy, first aid and treatment for epilepsy. We performed McNemar’s and chi-squared tests to validate the results.
Results: For pre and post questions: Responses suggesting supernatural causes decreased from 51.9% to 10.9% in India and from 47.2% to 17.5% in Pakistan; belief that epilepsy was contagious reduced from 46.1% to 5.6% in India and from 30.2% to 7.5% in Pakistan. Knowledge on proper seizure first-aid increased from 46.2% to 94.7% in India and from 62.1% to 87.2% in Pakistan; and knowledge on the long-term management of epilepsy increased from 36.9% to 84.9% in India and from 23.3% to 75.0% in Pakistan. McNemar’s tests comparing pre- and post- results were significant (p< 0.001) for Indian respondents, while chi-squared tests for Pakistani respondents were also significant (p< 0.05).
Public Health