Professional attitudes of pre-nursing students to the care of patients with epilepsy in Southeastern Turkey

Abstract

Objective: This study was conducted to demonstrate whether nurse trainees are adequately prepared in terms of professionalism to provide quality care to patients with epilepsy. Method: The descriptive and cross-sectional study was conducted among first-year (n=104) and fourth-year (n=96) nursing students in a public university in eastern Turkey. Data were collected using the Student Introduction Form, Attitude Scale for Nursing Profession (ASNP), Epilepsy Knowledge Scale (EKS), and Epilepsy Attitude Scale (EAS). Number, percentage, mean, standard deviation, minimum, maximum, Chi-square test, Whitney-U test, Kruskal-Wallis test, and Kruskal-Wallis Bonferroni test were used to evaluate the data. Results: There was no statistically significant difference between the mean scores of ASNP, EKS, and EAS total scores according to the years of the students (p>0.05). In fourth year students, female gender, knowing someone with epilepsy, having a mother/father/sister/sibling with epilepsy or self, and being involved in the treatment and care of a patient with epilepsy were associated with better attitudes towards the nursing profession, their level of knowledge about epilepsy and their attitudes towards individuals with epilepsy. In addition, ASNP total scores of the first-year and fourth-year students had positive and significant effects on the total scores of the EKS (r=0.379, p=0.000; r=0.311, p=0.004, respectively). Conclusion: It was found that first and fourth-year nursing students in Southeastern Turkey had positive attitudes towards the nursing profession, moderate knowledge about epilepsy, and moderate attitudes towards people with epilepsy. In this context, students should be supported more in theoretical education and clinical practice.