Journals / Turkish Journal of Family Medicine and Primary Care / 2026 / Cilt: 20 Sayı: 3

Nursing students’ knowledge and attitudes toward the management of epileptic seizures in pediatric patients: A cross-sectional study

Pediatrik hastalarda epileptik nöbet yönetiminde hemşirelik öğrencilerinin bilgi ve tutumlarının değerlendirilmesi

Dilek Demir Kösem(HAKKARİ ÜNİVERSİTESİ, SAĞLIK BİLİMLERİ FAKÜLTESİ, HEMŞİRELİK BÖLÜMÜ)0000-0001-9914-8299
Murat Bektaş(DOKUZ EYLÜL ÜNİVERSİTESİ, HEMŞİRELİK FAKÜLTESİ)0000-0003-3327-8204
Çiğdem Müge Haylı(HAKKARİ ÜNİVERSİTESİ, SAĞLIK BİLİMLERİ FAKÜLTESİ)0000-0001-7630-9619
Pages
295–303
Publication Date
2026-09-01
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AI Summary & Key Takeaways

AI Insight
⚡ TL;DR(Too Long; Didn't Read)

These findings may inform curriculum planning by highlighting the need to reinforce pediatric seizure management content and experiential learning opportunities, particularly in the early years of nursing education.

📌 3 Key Takeaways

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Objective & Hypothesis:Aim: This study aimed to assess nursing students’ knowledge and attitudes regarding the management of epileptic seizures in pediatric patients and to examine the variables associated with knowledge and attitude scores.
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Key Findings & Data:Method: This descriptive, correlational, and cross-sectional study included 155 first-, second-, third-, and fourth-year nursing students from a state university.
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Conclusion & Impact:These findings may inform curriculum planning by highlighting the need to reinforce pediatric seizure management content and experiential learning opportunities, particularly in the early years of nursing education.
🔬Design:Modeling & Simulation
📍Scope:Comprehensive Sample
⚙️Variables:Pediatri · Hemşirelik öğrencisi · Epileptik nöbet

Abstract

Aim: This study aimed to assess nursing students’ knowledge and attitudes regarding the management of epileptic seizures in pediatric patients and to examine the variables associated with knowledge and attitude scores. Method: This descriptive, correlational, and cross-sectional study included 155 first-, second-, third-, and fourth-year nursing students from a state university. Data were collected using a Socio-Demographic Information Form, a Pediatric Epileptic Seizure Management Knowledge Test, and the Epilepsy Attitude Scale. Results: The nursing students’ mean knowledge score for pediatric epileptic seizure management was 10.47 ± 3.13, which may be considered a relatively moderate level of knowledgewithin the context of this study group. Their attitudes toward epilepsy were generally positive, with mean scores of 59.92 ± 6.60 for the total scale, 45.32 ± 4.65 for the negative and discriminatory attitudes subscale, and 14.60 ± 2.94 for the positive attitudes subscale. Regression analysis showed that the examined variables explained 49% of the variance in knowledge scores. Knowledge levels were significantly associated with academic year, with first-year students demonstrating lower scores compared to students in higher years. Female students demonstrated slightly higher knowledge levels than male students; the negative beta coefficient (β = -0.14) reflected the coding of the sex variable in the regression model. Regarding attitudes, the examined variables explained 22% of the variance in positive attitude scores. Although male students had lower knowledge scores, they exhibited significantly more positive attitudes toward epileptic seizure management than female students (p < 0.05). Conclusion: The findings suggest that nursing students had knowledge gaps in pediatric epileptic seizure management despite generally positive attitudes. Academic year and gender were associated with knowledge scores, gender was associated with positive attitude scores. These findings may inform curriculum planning by highlighting the need to reinforce pediatric seizure management content and experiential learning opportunities, particularly in the early years of nursing education.

Özet

Amaç: Bu çalışmanın amacı, hemşirelik öğrencilerinin pediatrik hastalarda epilepsi nöbetlerinin yönetimine ilişkin bilgi ve tutumlarını değerlendirmek ve bilgi ve tutum puanlarıyla ilişkili değişkenleri incelemektir. Gereç ve Yöntem : Tanımlayıcı, korelasyonel ve kesitsel tipte bir çalışmadır. Çalışma, bir devlet üniversitesinin hemşirelik bölümünde okuyan birinci, ikinci, üçüncü ve dördüncü sınıf 155 öğrenci ile yürütülmüştür. Araştırmada öğrencilere Sosyo-Demografik Bilgi Formu, Pediatrik Epileptik Nöbet Yönetim Bilgi Testive Epilepsi Tutum Ölçeği uygulanmıştır. Bulgular: Hemşirelik öğrencilerinin pediatrik epilepsi nöbeti yönetimi konusundaki ortalama bilgi puanı 10.47 ± 3.13 olup, bu puan kesme değeri bulunmayan bu ölçüm aracı kapsamında çalışma grubu içinde görece orta düzeyde yorumlanabilir. Epilepsiye yönelik tutumları genel olarak olumlu olup, toplam ölçekte ortalama puan 59.92 ± 6.60, olumsuz ve ayrımcı tutumlar alt ölçeğinde 45.32 ± 4.65 ve olumlu tutumlar alt ölçeğinde 14.60 ± 2.94’tür. Regresyon analizi, incelenen değişkenlerin bilgi puanlarındaki varyansın %49’unu açıkladığını göstermiştir. Bilgi düzeyleri akademik yıl ile anlamlı düzeyde ilişkili bulunmuş olup, birinci sınıf öğrencileri daha üst sınıflardaki öğrencilere kıyasla daha düşük puanlar göstermiştir. Kız öğrencilerin bilgi düzeyleri erkek öğrencilere göre biraz daha yüksekti; negatif beta katsayısı (β = -0.14), regresyon modelinde cinsiyet değişkeninin kodlanmasını yansıtmaktadır. Tutumlar için, değişkenler olumlu tutumlar alt ölçeğindeki varyansın %22’sini açıklamıştır. Erkek öğrencilerin bilgi puanları daha düşük olmasına rağmen, epilepsi nöbeti yönetimine yönelik olumlu tutumları kadın öğrencilere göre anlamlı derecede daha yüksektir (p < 0.05). Sonuç: Bulgular, hemşirelik öğrencilerinin genel olarak olumlu tutumlarına rağmen pediatrik epilepsi nöbeti yönetimi konusunda bilgi eksiklikleri olduğunu göstermektedir. Akademik yıl ve cinsiyet bilgi puanlarıyla ilişkili bulunurken, cinsiyet olumlu tutum puanlarıyla ilişkili bulunmuştur. Bu bulgular, özellikle hemşirelik eğitiminin ilk yıllarında pediatrik nöbet yönetimi içeriğinin ve deneyimsel öğrenme fırsatlarının güçlendirilmesi ihtiyacını vurgulayarak müfredat planlamasına katkıda bulunabilir.

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Cite This Article

Kösem, D. D., Bektaş, M., Haylı, Ç. M. (2026). Nursing students’ knowledge and attitudes toward the management of epileptic seizures in pediatric patients: A cross-sectional study. Turkish Journal of Family Medicine and Primary Care, Cilt: 20 Sayı: 3, 295–303. https://doi.org/10.21763/tjfmpc.1835874

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