The effect of modular education program that related to the children with epilepsy and their parents on disease management

This study was conducted to evaluate "The effect of modular education program that given to the children with epilepsy and their parents (EÇEMEP)" on education level, seizure self-efficacy, quality of life, anxiety level and disease management as a randomized controlled experimental study. For both experiment (n=42) and control (n=50) groups, children who were followed up at Child Neurology Policlinic of a Akdeniz University Hospital in Turkey 7-18 years old with epilepsy, not mental retardation and their parents were taken to the study in January-June 2014. For doing the study written consent from ethic committee, Akdeniz University Hospital, children and their parents were taken. The context of that modular education program (EÇEMEP) used in the study was constituted as a result of literature screening, family proposal and expert view. EÇEMEP was given child with epilepsy and their parents by using interactive teaching methods. Before and after the program data related to the children in experiment and control groups were collected by a researcher in face-to-face interviews using; Epilepsy Knowledge Test for Children, Seizure Self-Efficacy Scale for Children and Quality of Life Scale Related Epilepsy. Data for parents were collected by Family Questionnaire Form, Epilepsy Knowledge Test for Parents and Parent Anxiety about Seizures Inventory. Data were evaluated by using tests of mean, percentage, chronbach alpha, independent t test, Kolmogorov-Smirnov Test, Chi-square test, ANOVA for repeated measures, Duncan's test and Pearson correlation analysis. After EÇEMEP, it is determined that the mean scores of Epilepsy Knowledge Test for Children, Seizure Self-Efficacy Scale for Children and Quality of Life Scale Related Epilepsy increased in the children of experiment group and decreased in the children of control group. It is determined that the difference between these mean scores of these groups were significant as statistically (p<0.001). Again, after EÇEMEP it is found that the mean scores of knowledge about epilepsy increased in parents in the experiment group but the mean scores of the control group decreased and the difference between mean scores of groups was significant as statistically (p<0.001). But after EÇEMEP, the mean scores of anxiety increased in parents in the experiment group significantly. Mean scores of anxiety increased in parents in the control group less than experiment group and difference between mean scores of groups was significant as statistically (p<0.001). Also, after EÇEMEP, the children and their parents interviewed in the experiment group told more positive statements about illness. According to these results, it is suggested to be given consistent and regular education with multidicipliner approaches for children with epilepsy and their parents by nurses.