The effect of management of epileptic seizure training program prepared with virtual reality technology on seizure management of parents

Objective: This study aims to evaluate the knowledge, skills, and motivation of parents regarding management of epileptic seizures, by developing a "Management-of-Epileptic-Seizure-Training-Program-Prepared-with-Virtual-Reality-Technology". Method: This study is a double-blinded, pretest-posttest, observational-randomized-controlled-study. The administration stage of the study was conducted between September 2018-February 2020 with parents of 91 children who were diagnosed with epilepsy and were being followed in the Pediatric Neurology Outpatient Department of Akdeniz University Hospital. The parents were distributed into groups with simple randomization (Intervention Group n=45-Control Group n=46). During the preparation stage of the study, data collection tools "Management-of-Epileptic-Seizure-Training-Program-Prepared-with-Virtual-Reality-Technology" and "Patient Scenario Regarding Secondary Generalized Tonic-Clonic Epileptic Scenario with Aura" were prepared and integrated into the virtual reality glasses. In the administration stage, the intervention group was administered the pretest, then the training program, and a posttest immediately following the training. The participants were monitored on the 15th day. For the control group, a pretest, routine outpatient clinical practices, and a posttest were carried out; and the participants were monitored on day 15. In both groups, data were obtained with data collection tools that were integrated into the virtual reality glasses. An approval from the Ethics Committee of Akdeniz University, a written permission from the Akdeniz University Hospital, and informed consent from the parents were obtained to conduct the study. Results: In the posttest and follow-ups, it was found that the knowledge and skill levels of parents in the intervention group increased; however, those of parents in the control group did not change. This difference between the groups was found to be statistically significant. Mean scores of the motivation scale and its subscales were found to be high in all measurements of both groups. Conclusion: It was determined that the "Management-of-Epileptic-Seizure-Training-Program-Prepared-with-Virtual-Reality-Technology" was effective in increasing the knowledge, skills, and motivation of parents regarding the management of epileptic seizures. Keywords: Virtual reality technology, epilepsy, seizure management, child, nurse