Abstracts

Professional epilepsy service providers in New York recognize stigma as a barrier for the persons they serve. This study seeks to identify the current beliefs among service providers outside of the epilepsy community. Beliefs held by these other service providers have a positive or negative impact on the people they serve who have epilepsy.
A 10-item questionnaire designed to illicit responses about stigma was presented to 167 adult professional service providers of persons with epilepsy prior to a comprehensive seizure recognition and first aid training. Female (83%) [amp] male (12%) respondents were of African American (11%), Asian (2%), Caucasian (71%), Hispanic (8%) [amp] other (8%) descent. 39% held high school diplomas, 22% held Bachelor Degrees and 33% held Post-Bachelor Degrees. 17% had a family member with epilepsy and 50% had professional experience with epilepsy.
(Q1) 88% believe that a person with epilepsy would be able to obtain a driver[rsquo]s license. (Q2) 93% believe that women with epilepsy can become pregnant. (Q3) 97% believe that learning expectations should not be lowered for the child with epilepsy. (Q4) 77% do not believe that putting something in the mouth of a person having a seizure prevents them from swallowing their tongues. (Q5) 94% do not believe that epilepsy leads to mental retardation. (Q6) 94% believe that children with epilepsy can participate in sports. (Q7) 86% do not believe that epilepsy is a rare disorder. (Q8) 78% understand that a seizure can happen to anyone, at any time, for no reason and with no warning. (Q9) 94% understand that there are many different types of seizures. (Q10) 72% understand that an employer cannot ask about epilepsy on a job application.
86% of the professionals surveyed have a raised awareness (score of 80 or above) about epilepsy. Conversely, 23% still believe that putting something in the mouth of a person having a seizure prevents them from swallowing their tongue, 22% do not believe that a seizure can happen to anyone, at anytime for no reason and with no warning and 28% believe that an employer can ask about epilepsy on a job application. In addition 49% of those who had experience with epilepsy professionally scored 100% whereas only 39% of those having family members with epilepsy scored 100%. The results of this survey lead to the conclusion that while great strides in reducing stigma have been made, efforts to eliminate stigma must continue.
[Supported by: Epilepsy Foundation of Southern New York]