Epilepsy is among the most common serious chronic neurological disorders in childhood with numerous social and psychological consequences. The prevalence rate is 2.3/1000 at age 7 years and 4-6/1000 at age 10-15 years (Panayitotopoulos, 2007).

EpiStop would like review the studies conducted by V. Komarek et al., which focused on the psychosocial impact of epilepsy on Czech children in a 10-years interval. The first investigation (1,217 children) was undertaken in 1995 and the second (612 children) took place in 2004. The research focused on how epilepsy is perceived through the eyes of a child with epilepsy and how this disease disrupts everyday life (school, social aspects, holidays and leisure). The second group (2004) felt less constrained in personal, social and sporting activities. These surveys also have provided us with the information that teachers and friends of children with epilepsy have become more familiar with epilepsy over the course of 10 years, but that there is still space for further improvement.

Using existing methodology and verified questionnaires, EpiStop plans to undertake a survey involving school children, their teachers and parents to establish whether the situation has changed for children with epilepsy in the Czech Republic since similar surveys were carried out in 1995 and 2004.

Based on the data obtained, the association will inform all those interested how it is possible to improve the quality of life of children with epilepsy. These questionnaires could be a reliable tool for the next investigation in the Czech Republic.

The next plan will be to use the results of the survey to prepare an information brochure or leaflet and to upload the information on websites with a pro link to the website of the Ministry of Education.

The project will receive US$4,160 from the Promising Strategies Program.