A survey of Irish people's awareness and knowledge in relation to epilepsy. Survey conducted in January 2013.

1. Epilepsy Knowledge and Attitudes
January Omnibus
A Presentation Prepared For
January 2013
By
MG/KP
S13-001

2. 2
Research Methodology
A number of questions were placed on the Amárach Research
January omnibus. The omnibus survey is a syndicated survey
whereby clients can include questions within the survey.
A total sample of 1001 was achieved with quotas set on gender,
age, social class and region to achieve a sample aligned with
national population. Due to the high proliferation of the internet
among the Irish population, the Amárach Research omnibus is
completed fully online.
Interviewing fieldwork dates were January 14th – 18th.

3. MAIN FINDINGS

4. 4
Understanding of Epilepsy
(Base: 1,001)
Knows somebody with Epilepsy People who know somebody with Epilepsy
(N=454)
% Gender %
– Male 46
– Female 44
Age
No 39% 45% Yes – 15-24 46
– 25-34 51
– 35-44 39
16%
– 45-54 47
– 55+ 44
Don’t know Region
– Dublin 50
Almost half (45%) of the Irish – Rest of Leinster 43
population know someone – Munster 43
who has epilepsy
– Connaught 44
Q. Do you know of anyone who has epilepsy?

5. 5
Understanding of Epilepsy
(Base: 1,001)
Witnessed an epileptic seizure Those who have witnesses a seizure
(N=382)
% Gender %
– Male 42
– Female 35
Age
– 15-24 35
45%
No Yes – 25-34 39
38%
– 35-44 36
– 45-54 38
17% – 55+ 41
Region
– Dublin 39
Don’t know – Rest of Leinster 42
– Munster 36
Those who know someone – Connaught 34
with epilepsy are significantly Know someone with Epilepsy
more likely to witness an Yes 60
epileptic seizure No 21
Q. Has anyone ever had a seizure in your presence?

6. 6
Understanding of Epilepsy
(Base: 1,001)
Knowing what to do when Those who know what to do if
someone has a seizure someone is having a seizure
(N=429)
% Gender %
– Male 46
– Female 40
Age
– 15-24 39
No 38% 43% Yes – 25-34 45
– 35-44 41
– 45-54 40
19% – 55+ 47
Region
– Dublin 45
Don’t know – Rest of Leinster 43
– Munster 40
Those who know someone
– Connaught 43
with epilepsy are likely to
have a better understanding Know someone with Epilepsy
of what they should do if Yes 62
someone has a seizure No 29
Q. Would you know what to do if someone was having a seizure in your presence?

7. 7
Understanding of Epilepsy
(Base: 1,001)
Those who would not employ
Employ someone with Epilepsy
someone who had Epilepsy
Gender (N=189) %
% – Male 18
– Female 20
Age
– 15-24 16
63% – 25-34 21
No Yes – 35-44 21
– 45-54 18
19% – 55+ 18
18% Region
– Dublin 19
– Rest of Leinster 17
Don’t know – Munster 22
– Connaught 17
Those who know someone Know someone with Epilepsy
with epilepsy are likely to Yes 10
have a greater understanding No 25
and are therefore more likely
to employ someone with
epilepsy.
Q. Would you employ a person with epilepsy?

8. 8
Understanding of Epilepsy
(Base: 1,001)
Epilepsy is Contagious Those who know Epilepsy is
True/False? not Contagious
Gender (N=68) %
% – Male 80
– Female 92
Age
– 15-24 83
No – 25-34
86% 76
– 35-44 88
– 45-54 91
7% – 55+ 94
7% Yes Region
– Dublin 80
Don’t know
– Rest of Leinster 86
– Munster 89
– Connaught 92
It is surprising to note that
Know someone with Epilepsy
7% of people think that
epilepsy is contagious whilst Yes 85
a further 7% are unsure, No 91
potentially leading to
discrimination and exclusion
Q. Answer true, false or don’t know to the following statements – Epilepsy is a contagious condition?

9. 9
Understanding of Epilepsy
(Base: 1,001)
People with Epilepsy must Those who believe people with
avoid flashing lights Epilepsy must avoid flashing lights
Gender (N=711) %
% – Male 70
– Female 72
Yes Age
– 15-24 70
71% – 25-34 65
– 35-44 73
– 45-54 70
12% – 55+ 76
No Region
16%
– Dublin 70
– Rest of Leinster 66
Don’t know – Munster 77
– Connaught 79
It is believed by over 70% of Know someone with Epilepsy
people that the majority of Yes 71
people who have epilepsy No 72
must avoid flashing/flickering
lights
Q. Answer true, false or don’t know to the following statements – the majority of
people with epilepsy must avoid flashing or flickering lights?

10. 10
Understanding of Epilepsy
(Base: 1,001)
Almost all seizures involve falling Those who believe that all seizures
to the ground & jerking movements involve convulsions on the ground
Gender (N=430) %
% – Male 43
– Female 43
Age
– 15-24 41
– 25-34 45
43% Yes
38% – 35-44 44
No
– 45-54 40
– 55+ 44
19% Region
– Dublin 43
– Rest of Leinster 43
Don’t know – Munster 42
There is confusion among – Connaught 43
respondents on the effects of a Know someone with Epilepsy
epileptic seizure. The data
indicates that almost half (43%) Yes 43
believe that almost all seizures No 45
involve falling on the ground in
convulsions.
Q. Answer true, false or don’t know to the following statements – Almost all
seizures involve falling to the ground followed by jerking movements.

11. 11
Understanding of Epilepsy
(Base: 1,001)
Not all Seizures require Those who say that not all seizures
medical attention require medical attention
Gender (N=559) %
% – Male 55
– Female 56
Age
– 15-24 38
Yes
56% – 25-34 48
– 35-44 59
– 45-54 63
No 24%
– 55+ 64
20% Region
– Dublin 46
– Rest of Leinster 56
Don’t know – Munster 61
– Connaught 62
Younger cohorts are significantly
Know someone with Epilepsy
more likely to believe that all
seizures require medical Yes 62
attention. People who know PWE No 55
are more likely to say they don’t
require medical attention
Q. Answer true, false or don’t know to the following statements – not all seizures
require immediate medical intervention?

12. 12
Understanding of Epilepsy
(Base: 1,001)
Epilepsy negatively Those who believe that Epilepsy
effect intelligence does not affect intelligence
Gender (N=827) %
% – Male 78
No – Female 87
Age
– 15-24 74
83%
– 25-34 78
– 35-44 84
– 45-54 88
– 55+ 88
12% 5% Region
– Dublin 78
– Rest of Leinster 84
Don’t know Yes
– Munster 85
– Connaught 85
17% of the population think, Know someone with Epilepsy
or are unsure as to whether Yes 85
people with epilepsy are less
No 82
intelligent as a result of their
condition
Q. Answer true, false or don’t know to the following statements – having epilepsy
negatively affects a persons intelligence?

13. 13
Understanding of Epilepsy
(Base: 1,001)
There is a social stigma attached Those who feel there is a stigma
to those with Epilepsy attached to Epilepsy
Gender (N=499) %
% – Male 55
– Female 45
Age
– 15-24 46
Yes 50% – 25-34 48
23% – 35-44 53
No
– 45-54 49
– 55+ 52
27% Region
– Dublin 52
– Rest of Leinster 46
Don’t know – Munster 48
– Connaught 55
50% of respondents believe
that a negative stigma is Know someone with Epilepsy
attached to those who have Yes 59
epilepsy. This instance is No 45
highest in respondents who
know someone with epilepsy
Q. Answer true, false or don’t know to the following statements – there is a social
stigma attached to those who have epilepsy?

14. 14
Understanding of Epilepsy
(Base: 1,001)
Would you prevent someone from Those who would place
swallowing tongue during a seizure something in mouth
by placing something in their mouth
Gender (N=508) %
% – Male 56
– Female 45
Age
– 15-24 42
Yes – 25-34 52
51%
– 35-44 47
No 31% – 45-54 46
– 55+ 61
19% Region
– Dublin 56
– Rest of Leinster 48
Don’t know – Munster 50
– Connaught 48
Over half (51%) of
Know someone with Epilepsy
respondents would place
something in a persons Yes 49
mouth to prevent them from No 56
swallowing their tongue if
they were having a seizure
Q. What actions would you take if you witnessed someone have a seizure? Place
something in their mouth to prevent them swallowing their tongue.

15. 15
Understanding of Epilepsy
(Base: 1,001)
Throwing water on their face Those who would not throw
will shorten the seizure water on their face
Gender (N=743) %
% – Male 66
– Female 82
No Age
– 15-24 66
74%
– 25-34 68
– 35-44 74
– 45-54 83
– 55+ 80
7%
19% Region
– Dublin 66
Yes
– Rest of Leinster 69
Don’t know – Munster 79
– Connaught 88
If someone was having a Know someone with Epilepsy
seizure, it is unlikely that that Yes 75
people would throw water on
No 75
their face in an effort to stop
the seizure
Q. What actions would you take if you witnessed someone have a seizure?
Shorten the seizure by throwing water on the persons face.

16. 16
Understanding of Epilepsy
(Base: 1,001)
Restraining the movements Those who would not
will stop the seizure restrict their movements
Gender (N=594) %
% – Male 56
– Female 63
No Age
– 15-24 50
59% – 25-34 59
– 35-44 56
– 45-54 64
18%
– 55+ 65
21% Region
– Dublin 53
Yes
– Rest of Leinster 57
Don’t know – Munster 62
– Connaught 68
Almost 1 in 5 (18%)
Know someone with Epilepsy
respondents would restrain a
person’s movements if they Yes 63
were having a seizure No 57
believing that it will help stop
the seizure
Q. What actions would you take if you witnessed someone have a seizure? Stop
the seizure by restraining the persons movements.

17. 17
Understanding of Epilepsy
(Base: 1,001)
Stay with the person Those who are most likely to stay with
until the seizure is over the person until the seizure is over
Gender (N=594) %
% – Male 87
– Female 92
Age
Yes
– 15-24 82
90% – 25-34 87
– 35-44 90
– 45-54 93
– 55+ 95
3% Region
7%
– Dublin 87
No
– Rest of Leinster 89
Don’t know
– Munster 92
– Connaught 92
It is shocking to note that
Know someone with Epilepsy
10% of respondents stated
that they wouldn’t / would be Yes 91
unsure if they would stay No 91
with a person until the
seizure was over
Q. What actions would you take if you witnessed someone have a seizure? Stay
with the person until the seizure is over.

18. 18
Understanding of Epilepsy
(Base: 1,001)
Call an ambulance Those who would call an ambulance
Gender (N=586) %
% – Male 59
– Female 58
Age
Yes
– 15-24 61
– 25-34 62
59%
– 35-44 63
– 45-54 52
No 25%
– 55+ 55
17% Region
– Dublin 65
– Rest of Leinster 57
Don’t know
– Munster 54
– Connaught 58
Know someone with Epilepsy
6 in 10 (59%) respondents
would call an ambulance if Yes 55
they witnessed somebody No 62
having an epileptic seizure
Q. What actions would you take if you witnessed someone have a seizure?
Automatically call an ambulance.