Dataset Information

Management of epilepsy in Laos: Perceptions of healthcare professionals from Vientiane Capital province and traditional healers in Southern Laos.

ABSTRACT:

Background and aim

Traditional practices are deeply rooted in Lao people's perceptions and beliefs about health and illness.The objective of the study was to understand the perceptions of healthcare professionals and traditional healers regarding the management of epilepsy in Laos, and their reciprocal views.

Experimental procedure

An observational study was carried out in two areas of Laos from February to May 2017. Semi directive questionnaires were used to collect quantitative and qualitative data. Semiotic square was carried out to highlight relationships between attitudes of traditional healers and healthcare professionals. For quantitative approach, the proportions were reported, and the test used was Fisher's test for nominal variables. The mean and standard deviation expressed the continuous variables and the Student's t-test was used.

Results and conclusion

Epilepsy was cited by 90.9% of traditional healers as a convulsive disease with saliva or urine, and herbal medicines were predominantly used (86.4%) to treat it. Few healthcare professionals (26.5%) pointed out that they knew remedies to treat epilepsy other than antiepileptic drugs (AEDs), and 76.5% of healthcare professionals mentioned that epilepsy was a disease which only AEDs could treat. On the other hand, 54.5% of traditional healers confirmed a traditional remedy could cure completely epilepsy through long-term use. Ninety percent of traditional healers said the collaboration with healthcare professionals was a good idea and 44.1% of the healthcare professionals group said was complicated.The combination of these medicines for the management of epilepsy needs to be adapted to Lao's medical context.

SUBMITTER: Bounlu M

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7817710 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

ACCESS DATA

Publications

Management of epilepsy in Laos: Perceptions of healthcare professionals from Vientiane Capital province and traditional healers in Southern Laos.

Bounlu Mayoura M Auditeau Emilie E Vorachit Somchit S Chivorakoun Phetvongsinh P Souvong Vimalay V Soukhasem Thidachanh T Sannikone Sonesimmaly S Preux Pierre-Marie PM Boumediene Farid F

Journal of traditional and complementary medicine 20200102 1

<h4>Background and aim</h4>Traditional practices are deeply rooted in Lao people's perceptions and beliefs about health and illness.The objective of the study was to understand the perceptions of healthcare professionals and traditional healers regarding the management of epilepsy in Laos, and their reciprocal views.<h4>Experimental procedure</h4>An observational study was carried out in two areas of Laos from February to May 2017. Semi directive questionnaires were used to collect quantitative ...[more]

PMID: 33511061

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Dataset Information

Management of epilepsy in Laos: Perceptions of healthcare professionals from Vientiane Capital province and traditional healers in Southern Laos.

Background and aim

Experimental procedure

Results and conclusion

Publications

Management of epilepsy in Laos: Perceptions of healthcare professionals from Vientiane Capital province and traditional healers in Southern Laos.

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