MANAGEMENT AND ATTITUDES OF EPILEPSY BY A GROUP OF SYDNEY GENERAL-PRACTITIONERS

Previous surveys of general practitioners (GPs) have shown stereotypic attitudes and management of persons with epilepsy (PWE). We mailed a questionnaire to 107 GPs in the Sydney and Illawarra regions of Austra lia to evaluate changes in knowledge and management of epilepsy and at titudes of GPs toward PWE as compared with results of a similar study made 10 years previously. Most GPs referred patients with epilepsy to a neurologist for initial management in preference to initiating inves tigation and treatment themselves. GPs were very satisfied with their sharing of care with neurologists, but indicated their high level of d issatisfaction with other health care therapists because of impractica l advice and lack of empathy. The GPs' objectives of continuing manage ment were mainly to prevent seizures, monitor of medication and its ef fects, and reduce the impact of patients' epilepsy on their daily life . Although many GPs believed that PWE were more likely to have emotion al and relationship problems, most also believed that such persons con tribute equally to society and can have normal quality of life (QOL). Although the GPs prefer to use a neurologist for initial management of PWE, they see themselves as having a role in continuing care and prov iding psychosocial support. The stereotyped perceptions of GPs indicat ed in the previous study have improved, although in some respects they remain negative. This study offers an audit of the outcome of a decad e of educational promotion regarding epilepsy.