Original Articles
Parental awareness on anti-epileptic treatment
Authors:
J Kudalugodaarachchi ,
Sri Lanka Journal of Child Health, LK
About J
Registrar, Professorial Unit, Colombo South Teaching Hospital.
Y S de Alwis,
Sri Lanka Journal of Child Health, LK
About Y S
House Officer, Professorial Unit, Colombo
South Teaching Hospital.
D K Samarage
Sri Lanka College of Paediatricians, LK
About D K
Senior Lecturer in Paediatrics, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Sri Jayawardenepura.
Abstract
Objective To assess awareness on anti-epileptic
therapy among parents of epileptic children.
Setting Epilepsy clinic, University Paediatric Unit,
Colombo South Teaching Hospital.
Study population All patients registered in clinic,
followed up for at least 3 months.
Method An interviewer administered questionnaire
was used covering 16 aspects of anti-epileptic
therapy. Responses for each aspect were graded as
excellent (70% or >), good (50-69%) or poor (less than 50%).
Results Parents of 58 children were interviewed.
100% parents had been advised on general aspects of
epilepsy and 92% on principles of anti-epileptic drug
(AED) therapy. In 93% this knowledge had been
imparted to parents by a medical officer. In 96% this
advice had been given at onset of treatment and in
64% it had been reinforced subsequently. A 'good' or
'excellent' response was obtained in 11 aspects of
AED therapy whilst a 'poor' response was obtained in
the remaining 5 aspects.
Conclusions Parental awareness of certain aspects of
AED therapy needs to be improved.
Sri Lanka Journal of Child Health, 2003; 32: 69-70
(Key words: Parental awareness, anti-epileptic therapy, epilepsy, children)
doi: 10.4038/sljch.v32i3.706
How to Cite:
Kudalugodaarachchi, J., de Alwis, Y.S. and Samarage, D.K., 2009. Parental awareness on anti-epileptic treatment. Sri Lanka Journal of Child Health, 32(3), pp.69–70. DOI: http://doi.org/10.4038/sljch.v32i3.706
Published on
12 Jul 2009.
Peer Reviewed
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