Attitudes of professionally active adults towards patients with epilepsy. Pilot study

SUMMARY Background. Attitudes are formed throughout the course of our lives, and they result from our knowledge, experience or belonging to a particular group of people. Stereotypes, prejudice, or discrimination are often the consequence of uncritical copying the behaviour of others and the lack of knowledge. Aim. The aim of the study was to answer the following question: What attitudes towards patients with epilepsy are declared by adults undertaking professional activity? Materials and Methods. Included in the study were professionally active persons aged between 35 and 60 years. The research tool was our own questionnaire. The questions referred to the three components of the attitude: knowledge, emotions, behaviours. Results. The study group comprised 58 (58.59%) women and 41 (41.41%) men. The average age was 46.3 ± 10.2 years. Most respondents completed full tertiary education (n = 68, 68.69%). The average score obtained by the studied group from the entire questionnaire was 20.3 out of 27 points, which suggests that the investigated group represented positive attitudes. The highest score was obtained by the respondents in the affective component of attitudes, whereas the lowest was recorded in the behavioural component. Conclusion. Majority of people participating in the study showed a positive attitude. In the study group, the most difficult questions were those about first aid and direct relations with the patients. Women, respondents with higher education, single and those who do intellectual work have a better perception of people suffering from epilepsy. White-collar workers and women would be more willing to employ and collaborate with a person with epilepsy.