Nursing students’ knowledge and attitudes toward the management of epileptic seizures in pediatric patients: A cross-sectional study

Vollständiger Abstract

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Aim:This study aimed to assess nursing students’ knowledge and attitudes regarding the management of epileptic seizures in pediatric patients and to examine the variables associated with knowledge and attitude scores.Method:This descriptive, correlational, and cross-sectional study included 155 first-, second-, third-, and fourth-year nursing students from a state university. Data were collected using a Socio-Demographic Information Form, a Pediatric Epileptic Seizure Management Knowledge Test, and the Epilepsy Attitude Scale.Results:The nursing students’ mean knowledge score for pediatric epileptic seizure management was 10.47 ± 3.13, which may be considered a relatively moderate level of knowledgewithin the context of this study group. Their attitudes toward epilepsy were generally positive, with mean scores of 59.92 ± 6.60 for the total scale, 45.32 ± 4.65 for the negative and discriminatory attitudes subscale, and 14.60 ± 2.94 for the positive attitudes subscale. Regression analysis showed that the examined variables explained 49% of the variance in knowledge scores. Knowledge levels were significantly associated with academic year, with first-year students demonstrating lower scores compared to students in higher years.Female students demonstrated slightly higher knowledge levels than male students; the negative beta coefficient (β = -0.14) reflected the coding of the sex variable in the regression model. Regarding attitudes, the examined variables explained 22% of the variance in positive attitude scores. Although male students had lower knowledge scores, they exhibited significantly more positive attitudes toward epileptic seizure management than female students (p < 0.05).Conclusion:The findings suggest that nursing students had knowledge gaps in pediatric epileptic seizure management despite generally positive attitudes. Academic year and gender were associated with knowledge scores, gender was associated with positive attitude scores. These findings may inform curriculum planning by highlighting the need to reinforce pediatric seizure management content and experiential learning opportunities, particularly in the early years of nursing education.