Health literacy and rational drug use attitudes in parents of children with epilepsy

Purpose

Understanding parental attitudes and health literacy is crucial for promoting safe and effective medication use, which is pivotal in managing epilepsy, a condition requiring consistent and informed treatment decisions. So, this study aimed to determine the impact of health literacy among parents of children with epilepsy on their attitudes towards rational drug use.

Method

This study, conducted at a university hospital’s Child Neurology Outpatient Clinic in Konya, Turkey from May to December 2023, employed a descriptive research design involving 234 parents of children with epilepsy who attended routine check-ups during this period. Data collection utilized a Demographic Information Form, the Parental Attitude Scale towards Rational Drug Use, and the Health Literacy Scale, analyzed using IBM SPSS Statistics Standard Concurrent User V 25. Analytical methods included descriptive statistics (number, percentage, mean, standard deviation, median, minimum, maximum), as well as One-Way ANOVA, Independent-Sample T Test, Correlation, and Linear Regression (Enter method), with statistical significance set at p < 0.05.

Results

It was determined that 67.1 % of the parents participating in the study were female, with a mean age of 35.85 ± 0.47 years, and the average age of the children was 7.93 ± 4.78 years. It was found that 66.7 % consult a doctor first about the medications they use and health concerns, 97 % do not use medication for their children without a doctor’s prescription, and of those who do use non-prescription medication, 32.9 % administer antipyretics. The average total score of the Health Literacy Scale was moderate (43.17 ± 10.99), and the average total score of the Parental Attitude Scale towards Rational Drug Use was high (164.09 ± 32.09). Parental education level, occupation, and income status variables showed statistically significant differences in health literacy and attitudes towards rational drug use. Additionally, a moderately significant positive correlation was found between parents’ health literacy and their attitudes towards rational drug use.

Conclusion

This study underscores the critical influence of health literacy on parental attitudes towards rational drug use in children with epilepsy, emphasizing responsible healthcare decision-making. It advocates for tailored interventions to enhance health literacy among parents, aiming to foster safer medication practices and improved health outcomes for children with epilepsy.