Beliefs and Attitudes about Childhood Epilepsy among School Teachers in Two Cities of Southeast Brazil

Table 15

Inappropriate beliefs and attitudes of teachers.

Subscales	Items	Content
Neurological	4	I think a lot of anticonvulsant medication in the body can make a child like John have more seizures
	12	I believe that there is no real cure for epilepsy
	26	I believe that a child like John should stop taking anticonvulsants because his seizures are under control
	31	I believe that medication for seizures should be taken only when John has a seizure
	35	I think we should call an ambulance when a child like John has a seizure
	44	I believe that a child like John may have epilepsy because of an abnormality in the brain
	45	I believe that the type of epilepsy John has is a kind of mental illness
	46	I believe that no one really knows what causes epilepsy in a child like John
Metaphysical	5	I believe that prayers can cure epilepsy in a child like John
	13	I believe that a child like John has epilepsy because it is the God’s will
	16	I believe that miracles can cure epilepsy in a child like John
	25	I believe that fate is what makes a child like John have epilepsy
	32	I believe that a child like John has epilepsy because someone put an “evil eye” on his mother when she was pregnant
	39	I believe that a spiritual leader (e.g., priest or pastor) can provide the best help for a child like John
Environmental/psychophysical	1	I believe that the use of herbs or plants (natural medicine) is the best health care for a child like John
	2	I believe anyone can get epilepsy by touching a person who is having a seizure
	3	I believe that a child like John has seizures when he is very angry about something
	7	I believe that a child like John often presents difficulties in school
	8	I believe that a child like John may have seizures when he plays in the sun for a long time
	9	I believe that the parents of a child like John feel hurt by thier son because he has epilepsy
	10	I believe that a child like John has epilepsy because he is possessed by an evil spirit
	11	I believe that a child like John had seizures when he is lazy or bored and has nothing to do
	14	I believe that sudden changes in the weather (e.g., get very hot/cold/damp/wet) can make a child like John have seizures
	18	I believe that certain foods/drinks can make a child like John have seizures
	21	I believe that parents of a child as John have difficulty accepting that their child has epilepsy
	24	I believe that the parents of a child like John can convince him to hide from others who have epilepsy
	27	I believe that poor blood circulation in the brain can cause seizures in a child like John
	29	I believe that a glass of water or other liquid could stop a seizure in a child like John
	30	I believe that a child like John is often rejected by their peers
	33	I believe that traveling in a closed vehicle (without airflow) can make a child like John have seizures
	34	I believe that if a child like John has epilepsy, people will judge him as inferior
	40	I believe that a child like John has seizures when he does a lot of homework
	43	I believe that a child like John has seizures due to sudden changes in his mood