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

Öz

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.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• epilepsy
• neurology
• seizure
• self-efficacy

Kaynakça

1. 1. World Health Organization. Epilepsy [Internet]. 2019 [cited 2024 Nov 19]. Available from: https://www.who.int/newsroom/factsheets/detail/epilepsy
2. 2. Turkish Neurology Association. Epilepsy Working Group diagnosis and treatment guide [Internet]. 2021 [cited 2024 Nov 19]. Available from: https://www.noroloji.org.tr/TNDData/Uploads/files/Epilepsi%202015%20G%C3%BCncellenmi%C5%9F.pdf
3. 3. Günbey C, Turanlı G. Epilepsy and pediatric epilepsy syndromes. Turk J Pediatr Dis. 2022;16:249–257. https://doi.org/10.12956/tchd.888121
4. 4. Akdağ G, Algın Dİ, Erdinç OO. Epilepsy. Osmangazi Med J. 2016;38(Suppl 1):35-41. https://doi.org/10.20515/otd.88853
5. 5. Balal M, Demir T, Aslan K, Bozdemir H. Prevalence of epilepsy in Adana province and its relationship with sociodemographic factors. Turk J Fam Med Prim Care. 2017;11(1):20–28. https://doi.org/10.21763/tjfmpc.296272
6. 6. Başkale H, Çetinkaya B, Ceylan SS, Öztaş Ü. Life satisfaction and coping attitudes of mothers of children with epilepsy. Curr Pediatr. 2019;17(2):265–278. https://doi.org/10.4274/jcp.2019.0024
7. 7. Yorulmaz DS, Çınar S, Kanbay Y. Experiences and seizure burden of children diagnosed with epilepsy and their families: a phenomenological study. Turkiye Klinikleri J Health Sci. 2021;6(4):734–744. https://doi.org/10.5336/healthsci.2020-80352
8. 8. Dunn D, Walsh K. Anxiety in children and adolescents with epilepsy. J Pediatr Epilepsy. 2018;7(3):97–102. https://doi.org/10.1055/s-0038-1676537

9. 9. Tutar Güven Ş, İşler A. The importance of seizure self-efficacy in children with epilepsy in terms of disease management. Epilepsy. 2014;20(3):103–106. https://doi.org/10.5505/epilepsi.2014.92905
10. 10. Kahraman A, Bolışık B. Examination of attitudes of children with epilepsy towards their illness. Peer Rev Acad J Sports Health Med Sci. 2014;10(4):53–66.
11. 11. Huang Y, Li S, Lu X, Chen W, Zhang Y. The effect of self-management on patients with chronic diseases: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Healthcare (Basel). 2024;12(21):1–15. https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare12212151
12. 12. Kolahi AA, Abbasi-Kangevari M, Bakhshaei P, Mahvelati-Shamsabadi F, Tonekaboni SH, Farsar AR. Knowledge, attitudes, and practices among mothers of children with epilepsy: a study in a teaching hospital. Epilepsy Behav. 2017;69:147–152. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.yebeh.2016.10.018
13. 13. Ayar D, Bektas M, Ünalp A, Edizer S, Yalçintuğ FM, Güdeloğlu E. The association between seizure self-efficacy of children with epilepsy and perceived stigma. Epilepsy Behav. 2020;110:107141. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.yebeh.2020.107141
14. 14. Tutar Güven Ş, Fırat MZ, Dalgıç Aİ. Seizure self-efficacy scale for children with epilepsy: confirmatory and exploratory factor analysis. J Pediatr Res. 2017;4(4):220–226. https://doi.org/10.4274/jpr.60490
15. 15. Akbarbegloo M, Valizadeh L, Zamanzadeh V, Jabarzadeh F. The relationship between self-efficacy and psychosocial care in adolescents with epilepsy. Epilepsy Res Treat. 2015;2015:1–7. https://doi.org/10.1155/2015/756849
16. 16. Caplin D, Austin JK, Dunn DW, Shen J, Perkins S. Development of a self-efficacy scale for children and adolescents with epilepsy. Child Health Care. 2002;31(4):295–309. https://doi.org/10.1207/S15326888CHC3104_3
17. 17. Tutar Güven Ş, İşler A. Validity and reliability study of the seizure self-efficacy scale for children with epilepsy. Arch Neuropsychiatr. 2015;52:47–53. https://doi.org/10.5152/npa.2015.7399
18. 18. Smith G, Modi AC, Johnson EK, Shegog R, Austin JK, Wagner JL. Measurement in pediatric epilepsy self-management: a critical review. Epilepsia. 2018;59(3):509–522. https://doi.org/10.1111/epi.13992
19. 19. Zhao J, Li S, Zhang N, Cui C, Wang T, Fan M, et al. Felt stigma and associated factors in children and adolescents with epilepsy: a multicenter cross-sectional study in China. Front Neurol. 2024;15:1–11. https://doi.org/10.3389/fneur.2024.1459392
20. 20. Wagner JL, Modi AC, Johnson EK, Shegog R, Escoffery C, Bamps Y, et al. Self-management interventions in pediatric epilepsy: What is the level of evidence?. Epilepsia. 2017;58(5):743–754. https://doi.org/10.1111/epi.13711
21. 21. Ferro MA, Avison WR, Campbell MK, Speechley KN; Canadian Child Neurocognitive Outcomes Study Group. The impact of maternal depressive symptoms on health-related quality of life in children with epilepsy: a prospective study of family environment as mediators and moderators. Epilepsia. 2011;52(2):316–325. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1528-1167.2010.02769.x
22. 22. Tekçiftçi F. The relationship between seizure self-efficacy and quality of life in children with epilepsy [master’s thesis]. Konya: Necmettin Erbakan University, Institute of Health Sciences; 2024.
23. 23. Duran S, Can Öz Y. Self-management, spousal support, and related factors among individuals diagnosed with epilepsy. Arch Epilepsy. 2024;30(1):78–83. https://doi.org/10.4274/ArchEpilepsy.2024.23109