PERCEIVED SOCIAL SUPPORT OF PATIENTS WITH EPILEPSY
Konstantina Mpompota, Ioannis Koutelekos, Evangelos Dousis, Antonia Kalogianni, Georgia Toulia, Niki Pavlatou, Georgios Vasilopoulos
Sunday, January 1, 2023
Publication year:
2023
Authors:
- Mpompota Konstantina, MSc in Applied Clinical Nursing, University of West Attica, Department of Nursing, Athens, Greece
- Koutelekos Ioannis, PhD, Associate Professor, Department of Nursing A',Technological Educational Institute of Athens
- Dousis Evangelos, Assistant Professor, Department of Nursing, University of West Attika
- Kalogianni Antonia, Associate Professor,Department of Nursing,University of West Attica Greece
- Toulia Georgia, Επίκουρη Καθηγήτρια, Τμήμα Νοσηλευτικής, Πανεπιστήμιο Δυτικής Αττικής
- Pavlatou Niki, Department of Nursing Specialities GNA G.GENNIMATA
- Vasilopoulos Georgios, Assistant Professor, Faculty of Health and Caring Professions, Department of Nursing, Athens University of Applied Sciences, Greece
Keywords index:
Pages: 112-122
Abstract:
Introduction: Supporting patients suffering from epilepsy has received important global recognition and has a supplementary role at medical monitoring and treating this chronic disease. Purpose: of this study was the evaluation of perceived social support and the associated factors among patients with epilepsy. Material and methods: The study sample was consisted of 100 patients with epilepsy that visited the outpatient clinic of a public hospital for assessment on their health condition. Data were collected using the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support which included patients’ demographic characteristics. The level of statistical significance was set at p<0.05. Results: Out of 100 participants, 35% were men and 62% was less than 50 years old. According to the perceived social support, 50% of the patients had median more than 19, 18 and 19 by important people, their family and their friends, respectively. This score with the possible range of the grading (4-28) implies medium levels of social support towards the patients. Higher perceived social support by significant people, their family and their friends experienced patients with tertiary education (p=0.002, p=0.001, p=0.001, respectively) and patients younger than 40 years (p=0.002, p=0.005, p=0.003, respectively). Conclusion: Social support is a psychological determinant having no financial expenses that implies important benefits. Further investigation of the characteristics associated with support will contribute to the implementation of individualized care programs.
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