Trends in Public Attitudes toward Epilepsy among Chonnam Rural Areas

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Two successive surveys were conducted in the same rural areas. The first survey was intended to obtain an initial estimate of public familiarity with, understanding of, and attitudes toward epilepsy. The second survey was performed to assess trends in public attitudes toward epilepsy and the putative effect of campaigns on such a trend. METHODS: Cross-sectional studies were conducted by means of a door-to-door interview using the same questionnaire, in which all residents over 19 years of age, living in the survey area, were targeted. Vehicles for the educational campaign took the form of lectures and small group discussions. RESULTS: Of 820 respondents in the first survey, 93% of respondents were familiar with epilepsy. Nevertheless, only 8.5% answered they had an epileptic person among their family or relatives. The understanding of epilepsy among respondents appeared to be not only based more on supernatural or superstitious thinking, but was also less comparable to that of other studies. The attitudes toward epilepsy also were far more negative in Korean rural areas than in other countries. The false belief that epilepsy cannot be treated was the factor that contributed most to negative attitudes in Korean rural areas. Even though it was not remarkable, and was not attributed to the campaigns entirely, a positive trend was obvious not only in understanding the cause of epilepsy but also in attitudes toward epilepsy. CONCLUSIONS: It is important to recognize the fact that the majority of respondents still remain unchanged in their misunderstanding of and negative attitudes toward epilepsy, regardless of the new positive trend. In order to ameliorate prejudices against epilepsy and allow epileptic persons to interact with and adapt to their surroundings properly, not only continuous and repetitive educational efforts but also the sympathy of professional and lay societies regarding epilepsy would be needed.