Determining Seizure Self-Efficacy in School-Age and Adolescent Children with Epilepsy

Abstract

Aim: Epilepsy frequently occurs in childhood and represents one of the most common neurological conditions seen in this age group. Managing the disorder effectively requires both adequate seizure control and the development of strong self-efficacy skills. This study aimed to explore the association between seizure-related self-efficacy and various sociodemographic factors among school-aged and adolescent children diagnosed with epilepsy. Material and Methods: The study was descriptive and crosssectional in design, conducted between March and August 2017 at the Pediatric Neurology Outpatient Clinic of a hospital in Istanbul. A total of 127 children meeting the inclusion criteria participated in the study after providing informed consent. Data were gathered through a structured “Information Form” and the “Seizure Self-Efficacy Scale for Children with Epilepsy.” Statistical analyses included frequency distributions, one-way ANOVA, and Student’s t-test. Results: The average age of the participants was 12.6 years; the majority were female (60.6%) and middle school students (51.2%). The mean seizure self-efficacy score was 3.12, with a Cronbach’s alpha of 0.866 indicating strong internal consistency. A significant positive correlation was found between age and seizure self-efficacy scores (p=0.017). Additionally, maternal (p=0.003) and paternal (p=0.043) education levels were significantly associated with differences in self-efficacy scores. Conclusion: Children face challenges related to long-term medication use and seizures. As age and parental education levels increase, seizure self-efficacy improves.

Keywords

• epilepsy
• neurology
• seizure
• self-efficacy

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