Health Literacy and Attitudes Towards Childhood Epilepsy.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the public attitudes toward childhood epilepsy and the effects of health literacy and some sociodemographic variables on these attitudes.

Design: It is a descriptive and cross-sectional study.

Methods: The study was carried out with 311 individuals. Data were collected through face-to-face interviews with individuals using the Sociodemographic Characteristics Information Form, The Childhood Epilepsy Attitude Scale (CEAS), and the Health Literacy Scale (HLS). The data were evaluated using percentage and number, student t-test, One Way Anova, and hierarchical linear regression analysis.

Findings: The mean CEAS score of the participants was 43.61 ± 7.86 and the mean HLS score was 100.19 ± 17.90. According to the CEAS subscale/total score averages, no statistically significant difference was found between the variables of gender, family type, having children, family history of epilepsy, and history of epilepsy in one's close circle (p > .05).

Conclusions: It was concluded that participants' attitudes toward childhood epilepsy were positive, and that this attitude was affected by variables such as educational status, witnessing individuals having epileptic seizures, and health literacy.

Clinical evidence: It is recommended that health professionals organize training programs to increase public understanding of childhood epilepsy and improve individual attitudes toward the condition. Community health nurses can play an important role in raising awareness about childhood epilepsy. Community healthcare centers may be advised to include the issue of childhood epilepsy in their awareness programs.