Search

ZusammenfassungFür die Diagnostik von Epilepsien im Kindes- und Jugendalter und deren Behandlung mit Antikonvulsiva ist Expertise in unterschiedlichen Bereichen nötig. Der Patient profitiert dabei vom Zusammenwirken verschiedener Berufsgruppen. Risiken müssen reduziert und die in klinischen Studien gezeigte Wirksamkeit auch in eine möglichst gute Effektivität unter Routinebedingungen umgesetzt werden. Dabei sollten zunächst Aspekte der Arzneimittelverschreibung durch den Arzt berücksichtigt werden, wie etwa die Auswahl, Kombination und Dosierung der Antikonvulsiva. Dabei sollte die Arzneimittelanwendung nicht vergessen werden. Erst, wenn ein Antikonvulsivum richtig angewendet wird, kann der vom verordnenden Arzt gewünschte Therapieerfolg auch erreicht werden. Dabei sollten sich Maßnahmen nicht nur auf den Pflegedienst, sondern auch auf die Eltern, die Kinder und Jugendlichen selbst sowie Betreuer in Schulen und Kindertageseinrichtungen erstrecken. Durch theoretische Schulungen, praktische Übungen und regelmäßige Einbindung von Apothekern ins interdisziplinäre Behandlungsteam wird vermeidbaren arzneimittelbezogenen Problemen, die zu mangelnder Effektivität und dem Auftreten erhöhter Risiken führen können, vorgebeugt. Auf diese Weise wird nicht nur die Arzneimittel(therapie)sicherheit qualitativ verbessert, sondern auch die Teilhabe und Lebensqualität der Patienten und deren Familien positiv beeinflusst.

Prolonged seizures can cause severe harm and even death. For seizures lasting longer than 5min, an administration of rescue medication is therefore recommended. Caregivers such as preschool teachers should be able to administer correctly anticonvulsive rescue medication to children.A training concept for preschool teachers on seizure management focussing on practical skills was developed. To assess the success of the training, a structured interview on attitudes relating to rescue medication administration was conducted. The number of committed errors during administration of a rectal/buccal rescue medication to dummy dolls was compared before and after training.210 teachers from 115 preschools participated while all teachers from 303 preschools had been invited. The self-reported level of confidence in their own skills to administer anticonvulsive rescue medication increased from 5 to 8 on a scale from 1 to 10 (p0.001). The number of participants who agreed to administer rescue medication rose from 195/210 (92.8%) before training to 209/210 (99.5%, p0.001) after training for the rectal route, and from 173/210 (82.4%) to 209/210 (99.5%, p0.001) for the buccal route. For teachers who administered rescue medication before and after training, the number of administrations without any administration errors rose from 1/195 (0.5%) to 117/195 (60.0%, p0.001) for the rectal route, and from 13/173 (7.5%) to 95/173 (54.9%, p0.001) for the buccal route.A training for preschool teachers boosted the level of self-confidence relating to administration of anticonvulsive rescue medication. Teachers also committed fewer errors when administering rescue medication to dummy dolls.

ProblemSchool and preschool teachers play a key role in the care of children with epilepsy. Yet, data about their knowledge on epilepsy are scarce.MethodsAssessment of knowledge and attitudes towards epilepsy in teachers by conducting a questionnaire survey in Leipzig and Blankenburg, Germany, from August 2013 to January 2014.Results1243 questionnaires were completed by 302 school teachers, 883 preschool teachers, 56 students and two unclassified participants. Of the respondents, 140 (11%) stated to have already been actively involved in an epilepsy emergency situation, another 148 (12%) as observers. Only 214 (17%) of respondents felt sufficiently prepared for an emergency. A rescue medication had already been applied by 79 (6%) of respondents; only 186 respondents (15%) stated they would be willing to administer a prescribed rescue medication under any circumstances. In response to an open-ended question about the most common fatal outcomes of a seizure, status epilepticus and drowning were rarely mentioned. 233 (19%) of respondents assumed that epileptic seizures cannot result in death. 606 (49%) of respondents were concerned about the legal repercussions to an incorrect response to a seizure.129/403 (32%) of teachers with >20 years of professional experience claimed never to have had a child suffering from epilepsy in their care, even though the prevalence of childhood epilepsy indicates that they should. In total, 1066 (86%) respondents expressed a desire to gain more knowledge on epilepsy.ConclusionsTraining programmes for teachers should be established. Furthermore, a clear legal regulatory framework needs to be set up.

Epinephrine auto-injectors are used for first aid in anaphylactic emergencies by non-healthcare professionals, e.g., (pre-)school teachers. We developed an education session for preschool teachers addressing allergies, anaphylactic emergencies, and administering auto-injectors. We assessed their attitudes and knowledge in allergies and anaphylactic emergency by a questionnaire and monitored their practical performance in administering auto-injectors before the education session, directly after, and 4-12 weeks after the session. From 75 teachers giving their consent to participate, 81% had children with allergies under their supervision and 3% had already administered medication from an available rescue kit. The knowledge of triggers of allergies increased from 9 to 55% directly and to 33% 4-12 weeks after the session (both p 0.001, compared to baseline). Directly after the session, the number of teachers who felt well-prepared for an anaphylactic emergency rose from 11 to 88%, which decreased to 79% 4-12 weeks thereafter (each p 0.001). The number of auto-injector administrations without any drug-related problems increased from 3 to 35% directly after the session and shrunk to 16% 4-12 weeks afterwards (both p 0.025).A single education session substantially improved preschool teachers' attitudes and knowledge in allergies and anaphylactic emergencies. Additionally, their practical performance in auto-injector administration increased. What is Known: • Food allergies are increasing among children. • The knowledge about allergies and anaphylactic emergencies is poor. What is New: • The proportion of teachers who felt well-prepared for an anaphylactic emergency increased after a single education session. • The proportion of auto-injector administrations without any drug-related problems additionally increased due to an education session.

Aim In Germany, preschool teachers supervise children up to six years of age and are also responsible for supervising older pupils after school. This study explored the impact of a teaching session on epilepsy for teachers in charge of children from 1-10 years of age. Methods We evaluated the benefit of a teaching session offered to all preschool teachers in Leipzig, Germany, in 2014-2015, by asking them to complete the same questionnaire 12-24 months pre-intervention, and 12 months post-intervention. Results Both questionnaires were completed by 123 teachers. The number of teachers who felt they were prepared to handle an acute seizure rose from 36 (29%) pre-intervention to 65 (53%) post-intervention (p