INTRODUCTION: The aim of this study is to evaluate trough questionnaires the knowledge about epilepsy of Elementary School teachers obtained in the "Promising Strategies Program 2008" from International Bureau for Epilepsy entitled "Epilepsy at School. Teaching the Teachers." performed by the official Brazilian branch "Associação Brasileira de Epilepsia" (ABE). METHODS: A questionnaire was developed by ABE and it is composed by 35 objective questions concerning the following areas: concepts and definition of epilepsy and its causes (10); treatment and adverse effects of antiepileptic medication (10); popular stigma about epilepsy (5); activities of people with epilepsy (PWE) (5); and finally, first-aid during and after an epileptic seizure (5). The questionnaire was presented in phase (ph) 1 to teachers before the lecture "Epilepsy: Causes, symptoms and treatment" given by a health professional from ABE trough classical live class (CC) or by video-conference (VC) on "Rede do Saber's site" (http://www.rededosaber.sp.gov.br/portais/NotíciasConteúdo/tabid/369/language/pt-BR/IDNoticia/851/Default.aspx) and afterwards in ph 2. The results were compared to a control group of 66 teachers that did not attend any lecture. RESULTS: Classical class was given in four different cities of Brazil and VC was performed in the state of Sao Paulo and was transmitted to 74 different cities, including Sao Paulo city, this latter with 12 sites; 1,153 teachers were instructed either by CC 25% (288) or VC 75% (865). Most (78.5%) were female, aged between 18 to 68 years (mean 41.4); 76.6% attended University and 21.1%, graduate studies; 50% affirmed to know a PWE. The mean of right answers in ph 1 in CC was 78.4% (±10.1) and VC, 79.8% (±8.6) and in ph 2 in CC, 86.5% (±6.4) and VC, 86.8% (±7.1), reflecting increased knowledge in ph 2 (p<0.001) in the 2 strategies (control group: ph 1, 78.2%±7.4; ph 2, 79.6%±8.6; p>0.05). Comparison of variability of the combined action (CC+VC) between ph 1 (79.5%±8.6) and 2 (86.8%±6.8) was 9.9%±13.9 (p<0.001) (control group 2.3%±10.2; p<0.001, compared to CC+VC). The topics "popular stigma" and "first aid during seizures" had the lowest correct scores in ph 1 (CC+VC), 74.6% and 72.8%, respectively (control group 78.8±10.2 and 67.9±17.5). The highest gain (35.6%) in ph 2 was observed in "first aid" (control group 0.8±27.2, p<0.001) and the lowest (0.1%), in "popular stigma" (control group 1.7±26.4, p>0.05). There was a significant variation in the topic "first aid" in CC, 41.1% compared to VC, 33.3% (p=0.009). CONCLUSION: The educational plan of the "Associação Brasileira de Epilepsia" revealed good performance of the teachers of Elementary School without significant differences between the types of presentation (CC/VC), although CC was more efficient to teach first aid during epileptic seizures. The topic "Popular stigma about epilepsy knowledge" has not improved after the lectures and this subject still needs further research and efforts for better understanding and action planning.
Education; epilepsy; survey; teacher; school
