The Attitude of Greek Nurses Regarding Post-Traumatic Epilepsy - Abstract
The Post-Traumatic Epilepsy (PTE) constitutes a peculiar organic situation but not an illness with dangerous dimensions. As a result, someone with PTE can work properly and safely, especially when it works in hospital environment.
Aims: To identify the attitude of nursing staff about the post-traumatic epilepsy.
Methodology: A questionnaire was used (27 questions). An ethical approval was sought from the Hospital boards. The sample constitutes of 150 nurses from 6 hospitals in South-West region of Greece.
Results: The age ranged between 25-60 years (x=35.7), were female (82%) and working in medical wards 39%. The research demonstrated that the nursing staff will not be socked (51.9%) if they learned that a new qualified nurse comes to their wards with epilepsy. They would inform doctors (75.9%) but not the patient (87%) and the relatives (75.5%). In addition, they were not consider “her” dangerous for the patients under the fear of relapse (66.7%) while 61.1% would trust “her”. It is worth noting that only 46.3% of the sample agreed to have an epileptic nurse-incharge, while they would prefer “her” to work in nursing administration (58%). Also,
the majority of nurses (59.7%) believed that “she” can give medication and they would make “her” a friend outside of the hospital (87%). Finally, the knowledge of nurses with
regard to PTE was not judged satisfactory.
Conclusions: The state needs to clarify the parameters that render the nurses organic, psychological and intellectually capabilities in order to offer the best possible care to patients (basic and specialized nursing care).