A Mixed Study on the Health Education Needs of Caregivers for People Living with Epilepsy Undergoing Surgical Treatment and the Effects of a Health Education Program

Shuiying Zeng, Hui Liu, Xiaozhen Wen, Yujing Huang Department of Neurosurgery, Ganzhou People’s Hospital, Ganzhou, Jiangxi, 341000, People’s Republic of ChinaCorrespondence: Yujing Huang, Ganzhou People’s Hospital, No. 17 hongqi Avenue, Zhanggong District, Ganzhou City, Jiangxi Province, 341000, People’s Republic of China, Tel +86-0797-8083557, Email [email protected]: This study aims to understand and address the health education needs of family caregivers of people living with epilepsy, irrespective of the patient’s age. It seeks to construct and implement a targeted health education program informed by empowerment education theory and evaluate its effectiveness.Methods: Through semi-structured interviews, we explored the diverse health education needs of family caregivers of people with epilepsy, identifying key themes and constructing a responsive health education plan. The program’s effectiveness was assessed through a quasi-experimental study. The control group received routine health education, while the intervention group participated in an empowerment-based education program in addition to the standard protocol. We evaluated changes in caregivers’ disease management capabilities, knowledge about epilepsy, and quality of life at baseline, one month, and three months post-intervention using appropriate statistical analyses to confirm significance.Results: Sixty-five family caregivers participated, with 32 in the intervention group and 33 in the control group. Guided by phenomenological research, four main themes were identified. Significant improvements in disease management, epilepsy knowledge, and quality of life were observed in the intervention group, exceeding those in the control group at both follow-up intervals (p< 0.05).Conclusion: An empowerment-based health education program significantly enhances caregivers’ competencies across age groups in managing epilepsy, underscoring its effectiveness as an intervention model.Keywords: epilepsy, caregiver, health education, empowered theory