The relationship between seizure self-efficacy and quality of life in children with epilepsy.

ABSTRACT

AIM: This study aimed to examine seizure self-efficacy and quality of life of children with epilepsy and to evaluate the relationship between these parameters. METHOD: The study was conducted between November 2022 and November 2023 in the Pediatric Neurology Outpatient Clinic of a university hospital with 200 children aged 9-14 who met the inclusion criteria and accepted the study. The data were collected using the "Child Descriptive Form," "Seizure Self-Efficacy Scale in Children with Epilepsy," and "KIDSCREEN-27 Health-Related Quality of Life Scale". The data were evaluated using the IBM SPSS Statistics Standard Concurrent User V 26 statistical package program. Number, percentage, mean-standard deviation, median, minimum and maximum values, Cronbach's Alpha coefficient, Shapiro Wilk normality test, Independent Sample t-test, Analysis of Variance (ANOVA), Bonferroni test, Pearson correlation coefficient, linear regression analysis, Durbin-Watson value and normality of residuals Q-Q graphs were used in the evaluation of the data. A value of p < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: It was determined that 53 % of the children participating in the study were male, and the median age was 12 years. The mean total score of the seizure self-efficacy scale was 3.13 ± 1.03, and the mean total score of the health-related quality of life scale was 89.83 ± 15.63. There was a statistically significant positive correlation between the dimension of individual seizure control and total score of health-related quality of life and physical well-being, emotional well-being and social support, and peer dimensions (p < 0.05). A statistically significant positive correlation was determined between the effect of environment on seizure control and health-related quality of life total score, physical well-being, social support, and peer and school environment dimensions (p < 0.05). A statistically significant positive correlation was determined between seizure self-efficacy total score and health-related quality of life total score and physical well-being, emotional well-being, social support, and peer dimensions (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The study results reveal that high self-efficacy levels of children with epilepsy improve the quality of life of children with epilepsy.