An exploration of the knowledge and attitudes of health and safety teachers regarding epilepsy and its management within a secondary school

Abstract

Epilepsy is a neurological condition, which affects the nervous system and is characterised by recurrent unprovoked seizures caused by brain dysfunction. Around 50 million people worldwide have epilepsy which results in nearly 90% of the people with epilepsy are found in developing regions (World Health Organisation [WHO], 2009). Epilepsy is frequently seen among school children as its highest incidence is in the first decade of life (Bishop& Boag, 2006). Academic and social problems at school are seen among these children, whose academic performance has consistently been found to be poorer than would be expected on the basis of intellectual ability (Bishop & Slevin, 2004). Children having seizures during school hours may bother their teachers, who do not receive specific training on how to handle such a situation (Bekiroglu, Ozkan, Gurses, Arpaci, Dervent, 2004). Every local government secondary school has one or two Health & Safety teachers who are there to take over such a situation and to safeguard the student involved. The aim of this cross-sectional non-experimental exploratory study was designed to assess the secondary school Health & Safety teachers' attitudes towards epilepsy and their knowledge of the management of seizures. To fulfil the study's aim and objectives a cross-sectional non experimental exploratory survey in form of a self-administered questionnaire, with quantitative data, was used. A sample of 33 Health & Safety teachers from government secondary schools were selected by means of purposive sampling. Results revealed that some Health & Safety teachers lack knowledge on epilepsy and have never encountered a student with epilepsy during their teaching experience. Further more some Health & Safety teachers are not confident to handle an epileptic seizure if such a situation occurs. The findings disclosed by this study compare favourably with those presented in similar studies concerning teachers' knowledge and attitudes towards epilepsy. This study provides some valuable information which could be taken into consideration as a useful starting point for future population-based surveys and educational campaigns in Malta.