Effectiveness of an instructional program in parents' knowledge regarding home management of children with epilepsy

Abstract

Background: Epilepsy is one of the most prevalent chronical neurological illnesses affecting children. This disease doesn't affects children only, but also affects the family and the society indirectly, therefore the educating parents regarding home management of epilepsy is of a paramount importance in reducing the negative impact of this disease on the child, the family and the society. The aim: To determine the efficiency of an instructional program in parents' knowledge based on assessment of out- come. Methods: A qasi-experimental design was employed and (nonprobability convenience sampling technique) is used for collecting data from Middle Euphrates Center for Neurological Science /Al- Zahra Teaching Hospital in Iraq from August 2022 to May 2023. A total of 80 parents who have children with epilepsy were included in the present study and equally assigned into two groups (40 for study group and 40 for control group).The study group received an instructional program about management, (pre-test) and after application of it by two weeks ( post-test),while the control group was not exposed to the instructional program . Results: The study indicated that the parents in the study group have enhanced knowledge about epilepsy and home management (p<0.01) after implication of the program compared with the control group. Conclusions: The current study indicated the significant effectiveness of the instructional program in improving <0.01) after implication of the program compared with the control group. Conclusions: The current study indicated the significant effectiveness of the instructional program in improving parents' knowledge.