The Extent of Parents Awareness Towards Absence Seizures Among Children
Keywords:
absence seizure, children, parents awarenessAbstract
Absence seizures in children represent a nuanced aspect of pediatric epilepsy that often goes unrecognized or misunderstood among the general population. The level of awareness and attitudes towards absence seizures among parents play a crucial role in the timely diagnosis and management of this condition. This study aimed to evaluate the extent of parents awareness and their attitudes towards absence seizures in children, examining correlations with demographic factors to identify areas for targeted educational interventions. This cross-sectional study involved 92 participants, comprising parents from diverse demographic backgrounds. Data were collected through structured questionnaires that assessed knowledge levels (good, moderate, poor) and attitudes (good, moderate, poor) towards absence seizures. Demographic variables included sex, age group, educational level, residence, employment status, marital status, and family income. Statistical analysis was conducted to explore correlations between demographic data and both awareness levels and attitudes towards absence seizures. The majority of participants exhibited poor knowledge (69.6%) and moderate to good attitudes (68.5%) towards absence seizures. No significant correlation was found between demographic factors and knowledge levels, except for residence, where participants living outside Tikrit showed significantly higher awareness (P<0.05). Similarly, attitudes were significantly influenced by residence (P<0.05), with more positive attitudes observed among participants living outside Tikrit. Other demographic variables did not show a significant impact on attitudes towards absence seizures. The study highlights a significant gap in awareness and a moderately positive attitude towards absence seizures among parents, with geographical location being a significant factor. The findings underscore the need for targeted educational programs, especially in areas with lower awareness, to enhance understanding and foster more supportive attitudes towards children with absence seizures.
References
R. Rodenburg, A. M. Meijer, C. Scherphof, J. A. Carpay, and ..., “Parenting and restrictions in childhood epilepsy,” Epilepsy &behavior, 2013, [Online]. Available: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1525505013000450
A. Hagemann, M. Pfäfflin, F. W. Nussbeck, and T. W. May, “The efficacy of an educational program for parents of children with epilepsy (FAMOSES): Results of a controlled multicenter evaluation study,” Epilepsy &Behavior, 2016, [Online]. Available: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1525505016302967
A. Masri, S. Aburahma, A. Khasawneh, A. A. L. Qudah, and ..., “Parental knowledge and attitudes towards epilepsy–A study from Jordan,” Seizure, 2017, [Online]. Available: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1059131117306465
C. P. Shore, J. M. Buelow, J. K. Austin, and ..., “Continuing psychosocial care needs in children with new-onset epilepsy and their parents,” Journal of Neuroscience …, 2009, [Online]. Available: https://journals.lww.com/jnnonline/FullText/2009/10000/Continuing_Psychosocial_Care_Needs_in_Children.4.aspx
E. Posner, “Absence seizures in children,” BMJ Clin Evid, 2013, [Online]. Available: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3867171/
R. S. Steiner, “Medscape-WebMD Health Professional Network. Available online; free registration required. 2011,” Accessed 8-24-22.
M. S. Barrios, C. Rainey, and A. M. Feyissa, “A seizure in the eye of the beholder: painting an absence-to-bilateral-tonic–clonic seizure,” Neurological Sciences, 2024, doi: 10.1007/s10072-024-07313-1.
A. M. K. Al Awad, E. M. M. Salih, S. S. A. Alghamdi, and ..., “The extent of parents’ awareness towards absence seizures among children in Al Baha region, Saudi Arabia,” World Fam Med, 2022, [Online]. Available: http://www.mejfm.com/Dec%2030%202022/Absence%20Seizures.pdf
H. G. Tekin, P. Karaoğlu, and P. Edem, “Clinical and Electrophysiological Prognostic Factors of Childhood Absence Epilepsy.,” Journal of Pediatric Research, 2021, [Online]. Available: https://www.academia.edu/download/103807343/JPR-8-320-En.pdf
L. Aguilar-Fabré, R. F. Rodríguez-Valdés, and ..., “Electro-clinical relationship and source analysis of absence seizures in childhood,” Revista mexicana de …, 2022, [Online]. Available: https://www.scielo.org.mx/scielo.php?pid=S1665-50442022000300086&script=sci_arttext&tlng=en
A. Verrotti, S. Agostinelli, C. Olivieri, F. Chiarelli, and ..., “Early‐onset pure absence epilepsy: a distinct epileptic syndrome,” Acta …, 2011, doi: 10.1111/j.1651-2227.2011.02213.x.
I. Unterberger, E. Trinka, P. W. Kaplan, G. Walser, and ..., “Generalized nonmotor (absence) seizures—What do absence, generalized, and nonmotor mean?,” …, 2018, doi: 10.1111/epi.13996.
S. Matricardi, A. Verrotti, F. Chiarelli, C. Cerminara, and ..., “Current advances in childhood absence epilepsy,” Pediatric …, 2014, [Online]. Available: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0887899413006498
R. S. Alotaibi, G. A. Alghamdi, A. Alloqmani, and ..., “Knowledge and Awareness of Parents About the Difference Between Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and Childhood Absence Epilepsy in the Paediatric …,” Cureus, 2023, [Online]. Available: https://www.cureus.com/articles/150692-knowledge-and-awareness-of-parents-about-the-difference-between-attention-deficit-hyperactivity-disorder-and-childhood-absence-epilepsy-in-the-paediatric-population-makkah-saudi-arabia-a-cross-sectional-study.pdf
J. Q. Kang and R. L. Macdonald, “Molecular pathogenic basis for GABRG2 mutations associated with a spectrum of epilepsy syndromes, from generalized absence epilepsy to Dravet syndrome,” JAMA Neurol, 2016, [Online]. Available: https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamaneurology/article-abstract/2529988
L. M. Guilhoto, “Absence epilepsy: continuum of clinical presentation and epigenetics?,” Seizure, 2017, [Online]. Available: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1059131116302990
P. L. Pearl, “Epilepsy syndromes in childhood,” Continuum: Lifelong Learning in Neurology, 2018, [Online]. Available: https://journals.lww.com/continuum/fulltext/2018/02000/Epilepsy_Syndromes_in_Childhood.12.aspx
E. Hirsch, J. French, I. E. Scheffer, A. Bogacz, T. Alsaadi, and ..., “ILAE definition of the idiopathic generalized epilepsy syndromes: position statement by the ILAE task force on nosology and definitions,” …, 2022, doi: 10.1111/epi.17236.
H. Stefan and E. Trinka, “Generalized absence seizures: Where do we stand today?,” Zeitschrift für Epileptologie, 2022, doi: 10.1007/s10309-022-00469-w.
A. Verrotti, R. D’Alonzo, V. E. Rinaldi, S. Casciato, and ..., “Childhood absence epilepsy and benign epilepsy with centro-temporal spikes: a narrative review analysis,” World Journal of …, 2017, doi: 10.1007/s12519-017-0006-9.
P. Jain, “Absence seizures in children: usual and the unusual,” The Indian Journal of Pediatrics, 2020, doi: 10.1007/s12098-020-03423-8.
C. P. Panayiotopoulos, “Treatment of typical absence seizures and related epileptic syndromes,” Paediatr Drugs, 2001, doi: 10.2165/00128072-200103050-00006.
F. Y. Onat, G. van Luijtelaar, A. Nehlig, and O. C. S. III, “The involvement of limbic structures in typical and atypical absence epilepsy,” Epilepsy Res, 2013, [Online]. Available: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0920121112002434
E. Akyuz, C. Ozenen, R. Pinyazhko, O. B. Poshyvak, and ..., “Cerebellar contribution to absence epilepsy,” Neuroscience …, 2021, [Online]. Available: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0304394021004882
T. Rozenblat, D. Kraus, M. Mahajnah, H. Goldberg-Stern, and ..., “Absence seizure provocation during routine EEG: Does position of the child during hyperventilation affect the diagnostic yield?,” Seizure, 2020, [Online]. Available: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S105913112030100X
P. Genton, E. Ferlazzo, and P. Thomas, “Absence status epilepsy: delineation of a distinct idiopathic generalized epilepsy syndrome,” Epilepsia, 2008, doi: 10.1111/j.1528-1167.2007.01467.x.
C. McCafferty, W. M. Connelly, R. Celli, and ..., “Genetic rescue of absence seizures,” CNS Neuroscience & …, 2018, [Online]. Available: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6055804/
D. B. Sinclair and H. Unwala, “Absence epilepsy in childhood: electroencephalography (EEG) does not predict outcome,” J Child Neurol, 2007, doi: 10.1177/0883073807304198.
E. Pavlou and A. Gkampeta, “Learning disorders in children with epilepsy,” Child’s Nervous System, 2011, doi: 10.1007/s00381-010-1321-9.
A. A. Alhazzani, A. M. Alqahtani, A. Abouelyazid, and ..., “Public awareness, knowledge, and attitudes toward epilepsy in the Aseer region, Saudi Arabia—a community-based cross-sectional study,” Epilepsy &Behavior, 2016, [Online]. Available: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1525505016301718
F. Brigo, S. C. Igwe, and S. Lattanzi, “Ethosuximide, sodium valproate or lamotrigine for absence seizures in children and adolescents,” Cochrane Database of …, 2021, doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD003032.pub5.
S. K. Kessler and E. McGinnis, “A practical guide to treatment of childhood absence epilepsy,” Pediatric Drugs, 2019, doi: 10.1007/s40272-019-00325-x.
T. A. Glauser, A. Cnaan, S. Shinnar, D. G. Hirtz, and ..., “Ethosuximide, valproic acid, and lamotrigine in childhood absence epilepsy,” … England Journal of …, 2010, doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa0902014.
D. Nolan, S. G. Lester, S. M. Rau, and ..., “Clinical use and efficacy of levetiracetam for absence epilepsies,” Journal of Child …, 2019, doi: 10.1177/0883073818811511.
E. A. ELsayed, Y. E. L. Hossein, and S. M. Aly, “Parents Awareness Regarding their Epileptic Children in Minia University Maternal and Children Hospital,” Minia Scientific Nursing …, 2022, [Online]. Available: https://journals.ekb.eg/article_257242.html
A. S. Alharthi, S. A. Alzahrani, A. A. Alharbi, L. Y. Al Thobaiti, and ..., “Parents’ Knowledge, Awareness, and Attitude Toward Children With Epilepsy in the Al Baha Region, Saudi Arabia: A Cross-Sectional Study,” Cureus, 2023, [Online]. Available: https://www.cureus.com/articles/198578-parents-knowledge-awareness-and-attitude-toward-children-with-epilepsy-in-the-al-baha-region-saudi-arabia-a-cross-sectional-study.pdf
L. E. Zainy, D. M. Atteyah, W. M. Aldisi, H. A. Abdulkarim, and ..., “Parents’ knowledge and attitudes toward children with epilepsy,” Neurosciences …, 2013, [Online]. Available: https://nsj.org.sa/content/18/4/345.short
