Anxiety and Stigma among Epileptic Patients in Gaza Strip

Abstract

Objectives: This study aimed to determine the level of anxiety and the level of stigma among epileptic patients, and to explore the differences in anxiety and stigma according to the demographic variables (sex, age, marital status, working status, education, and monthly income) and according to the epilepsy related variables (age of onset of the disease and taking treatment regularly) among epileptic patients., and aimed to realize the correlation between anxiety and stigma among epileptic patients Study design: Descriptive, cross sectional study. The study was carried out in governmental community mental health centers inGazastrip. Method: One hundred fifty of epileptic patients from governmental community mental health centers in Gaza strip were included in the study sample using systematic random sampling, The respondents were 142 with response rate of (95%), 67 of them were male (47.2%), and 75 were female (52.8%). Patients with mental or physical disorder were excluded from the study. Patients anonymously filled out a questionnaire, included data about sociodemographic characteristics and epilepsy related variables. Standardized translated version of Taylor Manifestation Anxiety Scale (TMAS) was used to evaluate Anxiety, and Stigma Scale prepared by the researcher her self was used to evaluate Stigma among the participants. Statistical methods was used by SPSS computer software program. Results: The level of anxiety was (68.1%), and all of the study sample had different levels of anxiety. There was positive significant correlation (P= 0.001) between anxiety and stigma among the study sample. There were a significant differences in anxiety according to the age, marital status, educational level, and monthly income of the study sample. The level of stigma was at ratio scale (66.0%). There were significant differences in stigma according to sex, age, marital status, educational level, monthly income and age of onset the disease. Recommendation: Provide an overview of current understanding of this group of patients, their needs, and the provision of services to meet these needs. And more interest to poor, married and low educated of epileptic patients.