Knowledge, Attitude, and Practices of Schoolteachers Toward Epilepsy and Students With Epilepsy in the Aseer Region.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: The knowledge that teachers have about epilepsy affects their attitudes and practices towards students with the disorder. This study aimed to explore teachers' knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) toward epilepsy in the Aseer region. METHODS: This online cross-sectional survey targeted teachers aged 18 years and above, encompassing both males and females residing in the Aseer region with internet access. Teachers included in this study were recruited using snowball and convenience non-random sampling methods. Descriptive statistics and Pearson's chi-square test in Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 27 were employed, with a significance level of 0.05 (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY). RESULTS: A total of 62 teachers were included in this study 62.90% were aged 35-49, 93.55% were females, 90.32% were married, 80.65% worked in the governmental sector, 51.61% earned between 5,000 and 10,000 SAR, and 93.55% held a university education. Regarding knowledge, 36.6% of the teachers studied had very bad knowledge, 29% had poor knowledge, 35.5% had intermediate knowledge, and 4.8% had good knowledge. While 1.9% had a detrimental attitude about epilepsy, 58.1% had an incorrect attitude, 30.6% had an approximate attitude, and 1.6% had a correct attitude. Concerning teacher practice, 4.8% of the studied sample had detrimental practice, 56.5% had inadequate practice, and 4.8% had average practice. CONCLUSIONS: The study highlights the need for targeted educational interventions to improve teachers' knowledge about epilepsy. The positive attitudes observed provide a foundation for fostering inclusivity in educational settings. Strategies that address misconceptions and improve first aid preparedness can contribute to a more supportive environment for students with epilepsy.