Patients' knowledge about their disorder: Perspective of patients with epilepsy in a tertiary health facility in southwestern Nigeria

ObjectivePrevious studies have shown that patients with epilepsy do not have adequate knowledge about their disorder, suggesting that patient education is a vital part of comprehensive care for epilepsy. The goal of this study was to evaluate what Nigerian patients with epilepsy know about their disorder.MethodsForty-six patients with EEG- and clinically confirmed epilepsy participated in the study. The patients completed the Epilepsy Patients Knowledge Questionnaire. The questionnaire includes topics related to etiology of epilepsy, safety, compliance, legal issues of driving, and employment. The questionnaire scores were correlated with demographic variables, duration of epilepsy, and level of education of the patients.ResultsThe mean age of the respondents was 26.78 ± 9.27 years; there were 27 males and 19 females. The mean duration of epilepsy in the group was 7.6 ± 7.5 years. The mean rates of correct responses to the issues of safety and compliance were 31.6 and 76.8%, respectively. The mean scores on legal issues of driving and employment were 45.7 and 42.4%, respectively. The lowest score (10.9%) was on the etiology of epilepsy.ConclusionNigerian patients with epilepsy lack adequate knowledge about their disorder, and there is a need for improved educational intervention in these patients.

Research Highlights► The patients in this study have inadequate knowledge about the causes of epilepsy. ► The patients were not well informed about the management of epilepsy. ► The patients were not well informed about the legal issues of employment and driving for patients with epilepsy. ► Health care professionals need to provide information about epilepsy to these patients.