ABSTRACT

Aim

Epilepsy is the common neurologic disease that can be seen in both early childhood period and puberty generally. A correct emergency management is vital in an epileptic seizure in terms of preventing mortality and possible physical traumas. This study is conducted in order to assess the knowledge levels of nursing students about emergency management of epileptic seizure.

Materials and Methods

The research is conducted on students of a foundation university and a public university between April 2014 and May 2014. Study population was consisting 1022 students of two universities whereas the study sample was consisting 629 students who approved to include in the study. Data were collected via a questionnaire consisting 17 questions which had been prepared by the researchers. Statistical analyses were performed with SPSS 21.0 package program. Pearson chi-square test and Fisher’s exact test were used in comparison of categorical data. P<0.05 was considered as statistically significant with a confidence interval of 95%.

Results

Mean age was calculated as 21. 2 ± 2.3 (18-33). 80.9% (n: 509) was female and 32.1% (n: 202) was educating in 1st grade. 94.8% (n: 596) gave the correct answer for the emergency telephone number. 64.4% had an emergency management education during the university education period and 43.9% (n: 276) had emergency management education during driving license education or other education programs. Correct answer rates of 2nd, 3rd and 4th grade students about emergency management in epileptic seizure were significantly higher compared to 1st grade students. Students who received a prior emergency management education had considerable higher correct answer rates.

Conclusion

Students with a prior emergency management education had higher correct answer rate about emergency management in epileptic seizure. We can assert that including the emergency management lessons in education program of other disciplines may be in benefit of increasing the knowledge level of community.