Attitudes towards epilepsy in comments on the Internet news portals

The aim of this study: to reveal attitudes towards epilepsy, reflected in comments on the Internet news portals. Objectives (questions): 1. What are the most common topics related to epilepsy in the comments on the Internet news portals? 2. How are issues on treatment and social integration of patients with epilepsy revealed in the comments on the Internet news portals? 3. What is the emotional public reaction towards patients with epilepsy reflected in the comments on the Internet news portals? 4. Which factors determine the popularity of articles about epilepsy and how are articles on epilepsy evaluated by readers in comments on the Internet news portals? Methods: a mixed research method - quantitative and qualitative content analysis was used. The object of study was the content of comments on the Internet news portals. Sample: comments (N=1486) on 20 articles which appeared on the Internet news portals from January 2014 to June 2016. The comments were recorded, analyzed, coded, assigning them to topics, categories, sub-categories. Conclusions: 1. The most common topics commented on epilepsy were treatment, driving, education and work. Discussing family relationships of people with epilepsy was avoided. 2. The public tended to limit the opportunities of integration for people with epilepsy arguing that persons with epilepsy have to work at home and cannot drive. Confidence in the modern treatment was expressed, though complaints about drug side effects and doctors arrogant behavior was noted. 3. Public opinion about patients with epilepsy was basically favorable: a large part of commentators supported patients with epilepsy, condemned society which despises people with epilepsy, and encouraged sharing of information about this disease in schools, workplaces. Negative attitudes of the society make persons with epilepsy sad and fearful to talk about their illness. 4. The opinion about articles on epilepsy was critical and doctor's comments in them were encouraged, although provocative and emotional articles rather than informative ones attracted most attention. Recommendations: education of people in the close social environment with persons with epilepsy (school, workplace) and in the general society could help to change the negative attitudes of the society towards people with epilepsy to positive, empathic attitudes and thus help their social integration