203007 KAPE (Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practice towards Epilepsy) survey for Chinese and Vietnamese populations in the US

Tuesday, November 10, 2009: 9:30 AM

Kenny Chung , Health Research for Action, School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA
Susan L. Ivey, MD, MHSA , Health Research for Action, School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA
Wenting Guo , Health Research for Action, School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA
Kevin Chung , Health Research for Action, School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA
Catherine Nguyen , Health Research for Action, School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA
Corina Chung , Research, Evaluation & Data, Asian & Pacific Islander American Health Forum, San Francisco, CA
Christine Nguyen , Health Research for Action, School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA
Winston Tseng, PhD , Health Research for Action, School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA
     
Background/Significance

The social consequences of epilepsy are a main obstacle to obtaining health parity for people with epilepsy (PWE). Worldwide, PWE face misunderstandings and social stigmatization. While similar studies among other ethnic populations have been conducted in the US and other countries, there is no literature specific to the Asian and Asian-American populations in the US.

Objective/Purpose

We seek to fill this void by conducting a cross-sectional survey in multiple sites to assess knowledge, attitudes, and practices towards epilepsy among Chinese and Vietnamese people living in the US. The project is student-driven with faculty guidance.

Methods

A 34-item survey instrument (in English, Chinese, and Vietnamese) was administered by trained surveyors (fluent in language of interviews) to 2,417 participants in 33 cities across 4 states beginning in November 2008. Options of either self-administering the survey or having a face-to-face interview with a surveyor were available.

Results

From our preliminary sample of 1,868 participants, 56% have seen an episode of epilepsy; 38% know someone with epilepsy. 20% of Chinese participants and 54% of Vietnamese participants felt that the IQ of PWE is lower than that of the average person. Further, 59% of Chinese would knowingly hire PWE as compared to 44% Vietnamese.

Discussion/Conclusions

As in other knowledge of epilepsy studies, we found that misunderstandings about and discrimination towards epilepsy also exist in the Asian American population. While there was little difference between genders, there were notable differences with respect to ethnicity possibly attributable to differences in culture or exposure to epilepsy.

Learning Objectives:
1) By the end of the session, the participant will be able to discuss basic information about epilepsy knowledge across Chinese and Vietnamese communities in the US. 2) By the end of the session, the participant will have new ideas on how to integrate student teams into research projects, including student-led projects.

Keywords: Asian and Pacific Islander, Mental Health

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am the lead investigator for the project and am a fourth-year Public Health and Molecular and Cell Biology student at the University of California at Berkeley.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

See more of: Mental Health & Substance Abuse among Asians & Pacific Islanders
See more of: Asian Pacific Islander Caucus for Public Health