A Randomized Controlled Study: Evaluating The Efficacy of A Mobile Application Developed For The Parents of Children With Epilepsy

Objectives: The aim of the study was developing a mobile epilepsy education package for parents of children with epilepsy and evaluating the efficacy of such a package. Methods: The Mobile Epilepsy Education Package (MEEP) was created by researchers between November 10, 2019 and May 30, 2020. The DISCERN measuring tool was used to evaluate the content of the MEEP. The evaluation of the package was conducted with 60 mothers (30 intervention patients and 30 control patients), all of whom had children with epilepsy, ages 3-6. The study was conducted between July 14, 2020, to December 10, 2020. The authors developed the MEEP. A “Family Description Form,” the “Epilepsy Knowledge Scale for Parents,” and the “Parental Anxiety over Seizures Scale” were used in the data collection. Results: The general quality evaluation of the Mobile Epilepsy Education Package according to the experts was rated 70.35 ± 6.20, with interrater agreement at a good level (Kendall W: 0.835). Knowledge and anxiety scores were similar in both groups prior to the mobile application. Following the application, a significant increase was seen in the level of knowledge about epilepsy among the mothers in the intervention group, while a significant decrease was observed in the anxiety over seizures. Conclusion: The MEEP that was developed to evaluate mothers’ level of knowledge about epilepsy and their state of anxiety over seizures resulted in an increase in knowledge and reduced anxiety. Acknowledgement: This study was sponsored by the Eskişehir Osmangazi University Scientific Research Projects Unit under Project No. 202042A214.