Authors :
Presenting Author: Victor Solis, MS – Epilepsy Foundation
LaQueisa Haynes-Smith, MPH, MCHES – Epilepsy Foundation
Cheryl Houston, Associates Degree – Epilepsy Foundation
Brian Gilchrist, PhD, MPH – Epilepsy Foundation of America
Rationale:
Epilepsy is a chronic neurological condition affecting over 3.4 million Americans, including approximately 710,000 Hispanics. Despite being the largest minority group in the U.S. since 2003, Hispanic communities continue to face disparities in epilepsy awareness, diagnosis, and care. Misconceptions about epilepsy contribute to stigma, underdiagnosis, and inadequate access to treatment. Cultural and linguistic barriers further limit access to life-saving seizure education and resources. To address these gaps, the Epilepsy Foundation developed a Spanish-language Seizure First Aid (SFA) Certification Training and launched the Spanish Epilepsy Learning Portal—a culturally responsive, accessible learning management system tailored for Spanish-speaking communities.Methods:
To expand access to culturally relevant epilepsy education and evaluate the impact of the Spanish SFA Certification Training delivered through the Spanish Epilepsy Learning Portal. In collaboration with the National Hispanic Medical Association and the Foundation’s Professional Advisory Board, the English-language SFA course was adapted into Spanish and made available on the newly developed portal, the only platform of its kind dedicated to Spanish-speaking audiences. The portal offers self-paced certification through user-friendly, culturally adapted content. To maximize reach, a bilingual, multi-channel marketing campaign was implemented. The course was promoted via the Foundation’s English and Spanish learning portals, social media, newsletters, targeted email outreach, and partner communications. Outreach efforts were aligned with observances such as Hispanic Heritage Month to boost visibility and enrollment.
Results:
The average pretest knowledge score was 9.42 and the posttest average was 12.79, resulting in a statistically significant 3.4-point increase (p < .001). The average self-efficacy score rose from 19.22 at pretest to 25.94 at posttest—a 6.7-point gain, also statistically significant (p < .001). These findings suggest the program consistently increases both knowledge and confidence in providing seizure first aid among Spanish-speaking participants.