A community-based awareness program improves knowledge and attitudes toward epilepsy: An interventional study.

• Epilepsy remains one of the least understood diseases and patients with epilepsy suffer negative attitudes and stigma. • Educational programs are the most effective methods to improve knowledge and attitude toward epilepsy. • A community-based epilepsy awareness program increased knowledge and attitude toward epilepsy. Little interventional studies were conducted to improve knowledge, improve attitude, and eliminate stigma against patients with epilepsy. This study was conducted to investigate the effect of a community-based epilepsy awareness program (CBEAP) on knowledge, attitude, and stigma against patients with epilepsy among the Palestinian general public. This interventional study used a pre-post design. Knowledge and attitudes were assessed using a reliable and internally consistent questionnaire before and 1 month after receiving a CBEAP. Knowledge was assessed using a 16-item and attitudes were assessed using 13 items. A total of 150 participants completed the questionnaire before the CBEAP. Of those, 136 (90.7 %) completed the CBEAP, and 129 (86.0 %) completed the questionnaire 1 month after receiving the CBEAP. The CBEAP significantly (p-value < 0.05) increased knowledge about the nature of epilepsy and seizures, triggers and treatment options, and patients with epilepsy. Similarly, the CBEAP significantly (p-value < 0.001) improved the attitudes of the participants toward epilepsy or having epilepsy, patients with epilepsy, relationships with patients with epilepsy, and working or staying with patients with epilepsy. Greater changes in knowledge and attitude scores were predicted by younger age and having a close friend or family member with epilepsy. The CBEAP developed and implemented in this interventional study significantly increased the knowledge of the participants about epilepsy and improved their attitudes toward epilepsy and patients with epilepsy. Large-scale implementation of such interventional programs is still needed to increase knowledge and improve attitudes toward epilepsy and patients with epilepsy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]