The Effect of Psychological Empowerment Program on Feeling of Burden and Self-efficacy among Mothers of Children with Epilepsy

Background: Epilepsy is one of the most common neurological illnesses in children. As the primary caregivers, the mothers of epileptic children experience various psychological pressures as feeling of burden and low self-efficacy. Aim of the study: This study aimed to investigate the effect of psychological empowerment program on feeling of burden and self-efficacy among mothers of children with Epilepsy. Research Design: A quasi-experimental design one group (pre/post-test) was utilized to in this study. Setting: The study was conducted at outpatient clinic for Epilepsy at Psychiatric/Mental Health Hospital, Benha City, Qalyubia Governorate, which is affiliated to General Secretariat of Mental Health. Sample: A convenience sample of (40) mothers accompanying their children with epilepsy and receiving treatment in the study setting. Tools: Three tools were used for data collection: I) A Structured Self-administered Questionnaire included socio-demographic data of mothers and demographic data and medical history of their children, II) The Zarit Burden Interview, and III), and Revised Scale for Caregiving Self-Efficacy. Results: More than half of the studied mothers have severe level of burden pre-program implementation, while almost two thirds of them have mild burden post program implementation. Less than two thirds of the studied mothers have low self-efficacy before program implementation, while almost three quarters of them have high self-efficacy post program implementation. Also, there is a highly statistically significant negative correlation between total burden and total self-efficacy among the studied mothers post program implementation.