Dental students' knowledge and attitudes toward patients with epilepsy

Epilepsy is defined as a group of symptoms resulting from several neuronal complications ranging from changes in consciousness and motor activity to sensory phenomena and aberrant behaviors. This health problem has been associated with cases of stigma that can seriously affect the patient's quality of life. This study's main objective was to investigate the knowledge and attitudes regarding the treatment of patients diagnosed with epilepsy by undergraduate dentistry students. The methodology was based on applying a structured questionnaire with 17 close-ended questions that evaluated information such as sociodemographic data, knowledge about epilepsy and social tolerance. The sample consisted of 397 students enrolled in the Dentistry course at Federal University of Parana and divided into: group 1, students attending the 1st to the 7th semester of the course, and group 2, students in the last semester of the course. Group 1 students had more opportunities to care for patients with epilepsy than group 2. Most students expressed positive attitudes toward living with people suffering from epilepsy and considered that they could not exercise certain professional activities. The question with the least number of correct answers dealt with the treatment of patients with the disease. Students' knowledge of epilepsy was low. However, the level of positive attitudes toward living with this type of patient was considered high.