Honors Theses
Date of Award
Spring 4-12-2024
Document Type
Undergraduate Thesis
Department
Biology
First Advisor
Anne Cafer
Second Advisor
Wayne Gray
Third Advisor
Lynn Woo
Relational Format
Dissertation/Thesis
Abstract
Within recent years, there has been increased attention to the growing physician shortage across the United States. This shortage has placed substantial strain upon regions of lower healthcare access, particularly those of rural regions such as much of the state of Mississippi. As rural healthcare providers are placed under more strenuous conditions, they encounter issues of increased patient volume, lack of a trauma team, or adequate transportation to higher-level care facilities. These issues may exacerbate the present inequities in cost of living, access to adequate healthcare, and the distress caused by these concerns. Individuals with epilepsy are one cohort with an established increased likelihood of injury and cost of living. To counter the effects of the changing healthcare environment, the National Epilepsy Foundation created the Seizure First Aid course to provide those outside of the healthcare field with the knowledge to assist in seizure-related emergency situations.
In the course of this project, we received certification through the National Epilepsy Foundation’s Seizure first aid course and provided this training to several groups throughout the Northern Mississippi area. The training consisted of various exercises depicting seizures and epilepsy, explanations about what happens during a seizure and what to look for, and instructions on how to provide first-aid should one encounter an emergency scenario. Prior to training, a pre-course survey collected biographical information, current perceived self-efficacy in various metrics of the course, and subjective measurement of prior knowledge. Following the conclusion of the course, a similar survey was administered to assess the impact of the course on participants’ willingness to intervene and proper understanding of the first-aid protocols.
Organization and descriptive analysis of the 38 completed data points collected across the three trainings indicated that the course was successful in adequately conveying the necessary information for assisting in seizure emergencies. Prior to completion of the course, the average participant did not meet the required level of understanding to achieve certification through the National Epilepsy Foundation; however, the post- survey found that the average participant met the required level of knowledge to gain certification. Participants also displayed improved subjective efficacy of ability and willingness to intervene for every measured metric. Lastly, participants rated the course as incredibly useful, and every participant selected that they would highly recommend this course to others.
The National Epilepsy Foundation’s Seizure First Aid training was proven to be effective in its goals of increasing audience member’s confidence in implementing first aid techniques as well as their knowledge of epilepsy and seizures. Hospitalizations and injuries as the result of seizures can be reduced using seizure first aid techniques. By reducing the total hospitalizations, medical costs related to epilepsy treatment would also be reduced. If this training is incorporated into programming related to rural and preventative healthcare, there would likely be a reduction in overall injuries and hospitalizations related to seizure events. In a medically underserved and largely rural state like Mississippi, reducing strain on the healthcare system is vital to increasing health outcomes for all, especially when considering the added strain from Mississippi’s physician shortage.
Recommended Citation
Herrington, Anna Katherine; Crawson, Collin Earl Wayne; and Zuckerman, Daniel Robert, "Evaluation of Seizure Recognition and First Aid Training Course and Improving Self-Efficacy Related to Medical Emergencies in Mississippi" (2024). Honors Theses. 3173.
https://egrove.olemiss.edu/hon_thesis/3173
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