# Knowledge and attitudes about epilepsy of neurology outpatients in Türkiye

## TL;DR

The study found that higher education and personal familiarity with epilepsy are linked to better knowledge and more positive attitudes toward epilepsy among neurology outpatients in Türkiye.

## Contribution

This is the first study to assess epilepsy knowledge and attitudes among non-epilepsy neurology outpatients in Türkiye.

## Key findings

- Higher education levels correlate with improved epilepsy knowledge and attitudes (p < 0.001).
- Participants familiar with someone with epilepsy had significantly better knowledge and attitudes (p < 0.001).
- Patients with headache and multiple sclerosis showed higher attitude scores compared to other neurological groups.

## Abstract

We aimed to evaluate the level of epilepsy-related knowledge and attitude among neurology outpatients without an epilepsy diagnosis.

The Epilepsy Knowledge and Attitude Scale was applied to 331 adult patients who were evaluated with various diagnoses in the neurology outpatient clinic.

The participants comprised 331 people, 51.4% of whom were women and 48.6% of whom were men. The knowledge and attitude values increase significantly as the education level of our participants increased (p < 0.001). The knowledge and attitude scores of those who knew about an individual with epilepsy were significantly higher (p < 0.001). Attitude scale scores were higher in patients diagnosed with headache, multiple sclerosis, syncope, Behçet’s disease, essential tremor and sleep disorders compared with other groups.

This study focused on a subgroup of adults without epilepsy who had other neurological conditions. The findings may illuminate the critical role of education and public awareness in fostering more positive attitudes toward individuals with epilepsy, reducing stigma, and facilitating their social integration.