Effect of Educational Program on Frequency of Epileptic Attacks and Self-Efficacy for Adolescents

Background: Epilepsy is the most common chronic neurological condition and very serious
among adolescents. Aim: The study was aimed to evaluate the effect of educational program on
frequency of epileptic attacks and self-efficacy for adolescents. Through the following: assessing
adolescents’ knowledge with epilepsy and frequency of epileptic attacks, designing, implementing
and evaluating the effect of epilepsy teaching booklet on self-efficacy for adolescents’ with
epilepsy. Methods: A quasi-experimental (pre/post-test) design was utilized to conduct this study at
Students' Hospitals affiliated to South Valley University Hospitals, in Qena. A purposive sample of
60 adolescents with age ranged from 12-18 years of both sexes, had a history of epilepsy at least for
6 months duration, and free from sever communication or cognitive impairment was included in the
study as a single study group. Three tools were utilized in this study: the first tool was structured
interview questionnaire, it had two parts; interview questionnaire sheet to assess the adolescents’
sociodemographic characteristics and clinical data about epilepsy. The second tool was Epilepsy
Knowledge's Scale (EKS), and the third tool was Epilepsy Self-efficacy Scale (ESES).Teaching
booklet was premeditated as reference for adolescents. Results: There were statistically significant
differences between mean scores of the pre and post implementation of the educational program as
regards adolescents’ knowledge regarding frequency of epileptic attacks and self-efficacy with
epilepsy. Conclusions: there were a lack of adolescents' knowledge of epilepsy and frequency of
epileptic attacks before implementing the teaching booklet of adolescents' self-efficacy. While, there
were an improvement in the adolescents’ knowledge was observed after implementation of the
teaching booklet which had a positive effect on improving the adolescents’ knowledge as regards
minimizing and control frequency of epileptic attacks and maximizing adolescents ‘self-efficacy.
The study recommended a periodically educational program planned and offered on regular basis
for adolescents’ with epileptic attacks.