Stressors and Coping Patterns of Mothers Having Children with Epilepsy

Abstract

Epilepsy is a neurological disorder caused by malfunctioning nerve cell activity in the brain. These malfunctions caused episode called seizures. The stress of a new epilepsy diagnosis may play a significant role in the daily activities of families with children with epilepsy. Most parents are extremely upset when their child is diagnosed with epilepsy, mainly because of the stigma associated with the condition. Parents play the most significant role in helping the child with epilepsy adapt to his/her condition. In practical terms, their functions include seeking treatment, ensuring the child’s compliance with treatment, facilitating the child’s functioning in and outside the home, and recognizes the impact of epilepsy on child attitudes. The care of a child who has epilepsy is best achieved by an epilepsy specialist nurse. While, the nurses play a pivotal role in providing a close link between the children with epilepsy and their families. They are also, in an ideal position to establish a link between the doctors and the affected families and offering valuable advice and support. Aim of the Study: The aim of this study was to assess the stressors and coping patterns of mothers having children with epilepsy. Subjects and Methods: A-Research Design: A descriptive design was used in conducting this study. B-Research Setting: The study was conducted at the outpatient clinic in the Neurological Pediatric Outpatient Clinic affiliated to Ain Shams University Hospitals. C- Subjects: A convenient sample was used and included all available children having epilepsy that constituted of 100 children and their accompanying mothers, who fulfilled the study criteria (confirmed diagnosis of epilepsy, whatever the types of epilepsy and who were attended to the previously mentioned setting for management and follow up). D-Tools of data collection: Data were collected through using the following tools: I-Structured Questionnaire Sheet (Appendix II): It was developed by the researcher after reviewing the relevant and current literature and revised by the thesis supervisors, it was designed in a simple Arabic language to suit level of understanding of the mothers, it includes the following parts: -First part: A- Characteristics of the mothers having children with epilepsy which included mothers’ age, educational level, occupation, residence and family income. B- Characteristics of children with epilepsy which included the child’s age, gender, child’s order and educational level.Also, data about duration and number of attack. -Second part: It was concerned with knowledge of the mothers regarding epilepsy such as: - Meaning and types of epileptic attack. - Risk factors of epileptic seizures and factors that mothers can follow to avoid these factors. - Types of treatment and its side effets. - The role of the mothers in care of their child when has a seizure and actions taken if a seizure not stopped. - The role of the mothers in care if their child vomits medication. - Compliance of follow up and drug regimen. - Safety measures that mothers follow with their child inside and outside the home. The types of questions were varied from multiple choice questions, short answer questions and essay questions and its number was 37 questions. Scoring system: The score of each question was determined according to its importance. The total score for the mothers, knowledge was determined according to their satisfactory level as following: -Satisfactory level of knowledge ˃ 60% -Unsatisfactory level of knowledge ˂ 60% II-Parenting Stress Index (PSI) (Abidin, 1995) (Appendix III). Parenting Stress Index was developed by Abidin, (1995). It was used to assess parents, stress, it includes 36 items related to parents, functioning, the behavioral and temperamental qualities of the child and the parent-child relationship. This index was modified by the researcher in the form of omission for some statements not related to its relevance of the study. Accordingly, 29 statements were selected from this index for data collection. The scale divided into 3 kinds of stressors (physical, social and psychological). The researcher translated the index into a simple Arabic language to suit nature of the study.