ABSTRACT

Epilepsy is one of the most prevalent chronic diseases in childhood. Unlike other chronic diseases, it is extremely difficult to predict when and where epileptic seizures will occur, which significantly reduces the perception of the children to control their lives. The concept of selfefficacy in individuals with epilepsy has gained importance in recent years. Self-efficacy related to seizure management is defined as belief in one’s own capabilities to cope with epileptic seizures effectively. A successful seizure management is the main objective in the treatment of epilepsy. Especially in the management of epilepsy, the patient’s self-efficacy beliefs is highly important in understanding the decisionmaking process. Patients with high self-efficacy are more likely to comply with the treatment, which increases their quality of life and decreases seizure frequency. In this regard, it is of vital importance to measure and determine seizure self-efficacy in children with epilepsy for a better management. In the current literature from our country, there are no studies examining the self-efficacy of children with epilepsy. By assessing and identifying the child’s seizure self-efficacy level, all healthcare professionals can provide a more effective treatment and care, making a positive contribution to the process of managing and coping with the disease.

Keywords: Child, epilepsy, disease management, self-efficacy, healthcare professional