Public awareness and attitudes toward epilepsy in Finland

Public awareness and attitudes toward epilepsy were surveyed in Finland. Three thousand names were randomly selected from the population registry in the age range of 15 to 64 years. Of the 2,789 persons contacted, 2,272 (81%) answered a questionnaire about epilepsy. The social background of the responsdents did not deviate significantly from that of the general population in this age range. The questionnaire consisted of 28 questions designed to determine the respondents' social background, acquaintance with epileptic persons, awareness of epilepsy, and opinions and attitudes about the disorder. Ninety-five percent of the respondents had heard of epilepsy, 49% knew an epileptic person, 45% had seen a seizure, 15% were familiar with the causes of epilepsy, 12% knew how to help a person having a generalized convulsive seizure, and 1% would leave their jobs if they had to work with an epileptic person. The attitudes toward children with epilepsy were more charitable than toward epileptic adults. The factors of knowing an epileptic person, education, and age had the greatest influence on awareness and knowledge of epilepsy and to a lesser extent, attitudes toward it. The level of knowledge of epilepsy was rather low, especially in younger age groups. The results appeared useful for the Attitude Formation Program of the Finnish League for Epilepsy. Those processes that govern the forming and changing of attitudes toward epilepsy in school or work should be traced. An information campaign will be continued, and the survey of public attitudes toward epilepsy will be renewed in the future.