Stigma and safe havens: A medical sociological perspective on African-American female epilepsy patients

Knowledge, attitude and practice of epilepsy among community residents in Enugu, South East Nigeria

“…Many studies had documented the observation that limited knowledge and misinformation about epilepsy breed negative attitudes and these contribute to the high level of stigma due to epilepsy. 13,33 Furthermore, when and where such programs exist they may be limited scope thus having little or no impact on the attitude of the hearers. Not all aspect of knowledge may effects attitudinal changes.…”

“…There are indications that the level of public knowledge about epilepsy correlates with the attitudes of the community and both influence the perceived social impact of the condition among affected persons. 12,13 The understanding of the opinions of the Nigerian public about epilepsy and its treatment is relevant to the reduction of the large treatment gap 4 that exists in management of the condition in SE in Africa. Few studies have investigated the problems of understanding the knowledge and attitudes of the general public towards epilepsy in South East Nigeria.…”

Perceived stigma and adherence in epilepsy: Evidence for a link and mediating processes

“…The act of taking AEDs itself can remind patients of epilepsy-related stigma, leading them to avoid pill-taking in public or veiling the pills' purpose [18]. Incorrect and/or insufficient knowledge about were shown to stigmatize the condition in the community and influence when individuals sought care and patients disclosed their condition [19].…”

“…Stigma may undermine seeking adherence information because patients may not talk about their condition with others as much as in nonstigmatized conditions [19]. Thus, they may have less adherence information, i.e., less knowledge about how to adhere to treatment and about medication side effects and interactions.…”

Qualitative research and its methods in epilepsy: Contributing to an understanding of patients' lived experiences of the disease

“…However, a small number of studies were conducted in Canada, Sweden, and Australia [3]. According to Kerr et al [3], the adult perspective, which underpins the focus of our paper (because of our concentration later on in the paper on surgical treatment for adults who have had repeated seizures), presents experiential impact in relation to stigma [4], QoL [5], patient decision-making [6], access to care [7,8], psychosocial adjustment to personal life [9], attitudes to epilepsy [10], emotional impact of treatment [11], and professional intervention [12].…”