engleski

Attitudes towards persons with epilepsy – National survey in Croatia

Objective: Epilepsies are the most common chronic neurological disorder. However, they care the most significant stigma among other chronic disorders, such as diabetes and asthma. Since 1989 the WHO started intensely working to reduce stigma in epilepsy around the world. The proposed a project „Out of the shadows“ which was accepted among all ILAE member states, including Croatia. Material/Methods: We performed a blinded National survey among citizens of Croatia in order to define a level of stigma in epilepsy in Croatia. Results: Our results show that 91% of participants know what epilepsy is and 57% know someone with epilepsy. 48% think that there is a stigma againts people with epilepsy in the society. 41% think that this is a psychiatric disease and some that it is contagious. 29% share opinion that people with epilepsy should work on lower ranked jobs and not at those which they are educated for. Conclusions: These results are rather pesimistic and much needs to be done to develop programs for each country to reduce stigma in epilepsy. We showed that people with a family member or with a friend with epilepsy have significantly lower levels of negative attitudes against stigma in epilepsy.

epilepsy, attitudes,

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