A Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice Study on Health Literacy and Discharge Preparedness in Patients with Epilepsy: Evidence from a Tertiary Brain Hospital in China

Jia Liu,* Qian Zhou,* Zijuan Jiang, Yuan Chen Department of Neurosurgery, The Affiliated Brain Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 210029, People’s Republic of China*These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Zijuan Jiang, Department of Neurosurgery, The Affiliated Brain Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 210029, People’s Republic of China, Email [email protected] Yuan Chen, Department of Neurosurgery, The Affiliated Brain Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 210029, People’s Republic of China, Email [email protected] and Aim: Health literacy and discharge preparedness are critical for managing chronic conditions like epilepsy. However, few studies in China have explored the relationship between knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) and discharge outcomes. This study aimed to assess health literacy and discharge preparedness among epilepsy patients and identify key KAP predictors.Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted from January and December 2023 at a tertiary brain hospital in China. A total of 331 adult epilepsy patients completed a structured questionnaire evaluating epilepsy-related KAP and discharge preparedness. Associations were analyzed using chi-square tests and multivariate regression.Results: A total of 331 epilepsy patients were included, with an average age of 38.6 years. Overall, 62.2% of patients demonstrated moderate knowledge of epilepsy, but only 29.6% knew proper seizure first-aid measures. Positive attitudes toward disease management were present in 68.3% of respondents, though 18.4% reported feelings of social stigma. In terms of self-care practices, 61.6% reported regular medication adherence, while only 21.7% were adequately prepared to manage emergency seizures. The mean discharge preparedness score was 7.1 out of 10, with 44.7% scoring above the threshold for good readiness. Multivariate analysis revealed that better knowledge and practice scores were significantly associated with higher discharge preparedness (p < 0.01).Conclusion: This study underscores the need to improve health literacy and discharge preparedness in patients with epilepsy, especially in a tertiary hospital setting. Tailored educational interventions focusing on enhancing KAP could significantly improve the long-term management of epilepsy and reduce hospital readmissions. The findings suggest that better patient education on self-management could be pivotal in improving both short-term and long-term outcomes for individuals with epilepsy.Keywords: epilepsy, health literacy, discharge preparedness, knowledge–attitude–practice, KAP, nursing education