Surveying the family attitude of a patients with epilepsy hospitalized in Shahid Beheshti Hospital in Kashan, 1378-79

Epilepsy is common neurologic disorder that affects children more frequently than adults. However, wrong belief and traditions of some regions have made this as a noncurable disease. During the present study we have evaluated the family attitude of a patients with epilepsy hospitalized in Shahid Beheshti Hospital in Kashan, 1378-79. It was a descriptive study. Having found the address of the patients hospitalized with epilepsy, we referred to their house and asked their first degree relative (father, mother, sister, brother) to fill a questionnaire including their educational level, noncurability of epilepsy, life-long usage of drugs, genetic susceptibility, and if the epilepsy is a contagious disease. Of 393 first degree relatives, 81 (20.6%) have stated epilepsy is a noncurable disease. 344(87.5%) have believed that the patients should receive the life-time drugs, however, 359(91.3%) had no opinion about the drugs’ side effects. 47 (12%) thought it is a contagious disease and 221(56.2%) stated non-drug based therapy. 44.6% of females and 31.4% of males have concealed their disease. 58(14.7%) were aware of social, and individual limitations. 228(58%) believed that it is possible to receive higher education. Results have revealed that we are facing not only the lack of general information regarding the epilepsy but also there still exists wrong belief in this regards. We require informative data in order to improve the general population knowledge and attitude in this regard.