| Abstract | Epilepsija spada u neurološke bolesti te je jedna od najčešćih u toj skupini. Predstavlja veliki društveni, medicinski i javnozdravstveni problem, a jednako tako utječe i na kvalitetu života. Prosječna prevalencija epilepsije u svijetu iznosi od 5 do 10 ljudi na 1000 stanovnika, a čak 80% oboljelih živi u zemljama u razvoju. Epilepsija je multifaktorska bolest koju karakteriziraju ponavljajući neprovocirani napadaji. U najčešće simptome ubrajaju se konvulzije, poremećaj osjeta, grčeve mišića, promjene u ponašanju i promijenjeno stanje svijesti. Sama težina bolesti može varirati pa jedinstvena putanja progresije ne postoji. Epilepsija se danas može uspješno kontrolirati antiepileptičkim lijekovima pa se tako veće narušavanje kvalitete života ipak događa na socijalnoj i emocionalnoj razini. Zbog stigme prisutne u društvu, osobe s epilepsijom imaju učestaliju pojavu anksioznosti i depresije. Društvena izolacija dovodi do problema sa samopouzdanjem pa osobe s epilepsijom bolest često drže u tajnosti, rjeđe stupaju u brak te dokazano postoji i niža stopa zaposlenosti u odnosu na opću populaciju. Fizička aktivnost, socijalna podrška i bračna stabilnost umanjuju negativan učinak stresora.
Društveni stereotipi uglavnom proizlaze iz neznanja i visokog stupnja neinformiranosti opće populacije o dijagnozi epilepsije, a stavovi i predrasude zdravstvenih djelatnika u velikoj mjeri mogu utjecati na stavove okoline te posljedično na kvalitetu života i pružanje zdravstvene skrbi. Provedeno je empirijsko anketno istraživanje na prigodnom uzorku od 203 studenata/studentica. Cilj je bio utvrditi razlikuju li se studenti medicinskog srednjoškolskog obrazovanja te studenti biomedicinskih i zdravstvenih fakulteta od ostalih studenata u stavovima prema osobama oboljelima od epilepsije. Rezultati su pokazali visok stupanj informiranosti studentske populacije o epilepsiji (89%; n=181) gdje je detektiran veći udio studenata medicinskog srednjoškolskog obrazovanja, studenata biomedicine i zdravstva te veći udio studenata koji osobno poznaju nekoga tko boluje od epilepsije. Slične rezultate daju i odgovori o adekvatnom načinu postupanja s osobom oboljelom od epilepsije prilikom epileptičkog napadaja (79%; n=161) gdje je detektiran veći udio onih koji osobno poznaju nekoga tko boluje od epilepsije. Pozitivnije stavove na svim razinama iskazuju studentice ženskog spola, studenti medicinskog usmjerenja, studenti koji poznaju osobu koja boluje od epilepsije te oni koji kroz odgovore iskazuju više znanja. Studenti medicinskih usmjerenja poučeni iskustvom i znanjem koje su stekli tijekom školovanja, generalno iskazuju pozitivnije stavove prema osobama oboljelim od epilepsije. Rezultatima istraživanja potvrđene su sve tri postavljene hipoteze, a razlog tome mogu biti unaprijed poznata očekivanja koja su naposljetku formirala uglavnom pozitivnije stavove. |
| Abstract (english) | Epilepsy belongs to neurological diseases and is one of the most common in that group. It represents a major social, medical and public health problem, and it also affects the quality of life. The average prevalence of epilepsy in the world is from 5 to 10 people per 1000 inhabitants, and even 80% of patients live in developing countries. Epilepsy is a multifactorial disease characterized by recurrent unprovoked seizures. The most common symptoms include convulsions, sensory disturbances, muscle spasms, changes in behavior and altered state of consciousness. The severity of the disease itself can vary, so there is no unique path of progression. Epilepsy can now be successfully controlled with antiepileptic drugs, so a greater impairment of the quality of life still occurs on a social and emotional level. Due to the stigma present in society, people with epilepsy have more frequent occurrences of anxiety and depression. Social isolation leads to problems with self-confidence, so people with epilepsy often keep their disease a secret, get married less often, and have a lower employment rate compared to the general population. Physical activity, social support and marital stability reduce the negative effect of stressors.
Social stereotypes mainly result from ignorance and a high degree of lack of information among the public about the diagnosis of epilepsy, and the attitudes and prejudices of healthcare professionals can greatly influence the attitudes of the environment and, consequently, the quality of life and the health care provided. An empirical survey was conducted on a convenient sample of 203 male/female students from the Republic of Croatia, the aim of which was to determine whether students of medical high school education and students of biomedical and health faculties differ from other students in their attitudes towards people suffering from epilepsy. The results showed a high level of information among the student population about epilepsy (89%; n=181), where a higher proportion of medical high school students, biomedical and healthcare students and a higher proportion of students who personally know someone suffering from epilepsy were detected. Similar results are given by the answers about the adequate way of dealing with a person suffering from epilepsy during an epileptic seizure (79%; n=161), where a higher proportion of those who personally know someone suffering from epilepsy was detected. More positive attitudes at all levels are expressed by female students, medical students, students who know a person suffering from epilepsy, and those who express more knowledge through their answers. Medical students, taught by the experience and knowledge they acquired during their education, generally express more positive attitudes towards people suffering from epilepsy. All three hypotheses were confirmed by the results of the research, and the reason for this may be the expectations known in advance, which eventually formed mostly more positive attitudes. |
