Comparative cultural study using the Public Attitudes Toward Epilepsy Scale (PATE scale) in Japan and Malaysia

Abstract Aim Epilepsy‐related stigma significantly impacts quality of life, with severity noted in Asian countries. This study compared public attitudes towards epilepsy in Japan and Malaysia, two Asian nations with distinct religious and healthcare backgrounds. Methods We used the Public Attitudes...

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Main Authors: Hiroumi Shimazaki, Takayuki Iwayama, Sayaka Kobayashi, Junichi Hatakeda, Zhi Jien Chia, Haruo Yoshimasu, Kheng Seang Lim, Izumi Kuramochi
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2025-03-01
Series:PCN Reports
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1002/pcn5.70063
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author Hiroumi Shimazaki
Takayuki Iwayama
Sayaka Kobayashi
Junichi Hatakeda
Zhi Jien Chia
Haruo Yoshimasu
Kheng Seang Lim
Izumi Kuramochi
author_facet Hiroumi Shimazaki
Takayuki Iwayama
Sayaka Kobayashi
Junichi Hatakeda
Zhi Jien Chia
Haruo Yoshimasu
Kheng Seang Lim
Izumi Kuramochi
author_sort Hiroumi Shimazaki
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Aim Epilepsy‐related stigma significantly impacts quality of life, with severity noted in Asian countries. This study compared public attitudes towards epilepsy in Japan and Malaysia, two Asian nations with distinct religious and healthcare backgrounds. Methods We used the Public Attitudes Toward Epilepsy (PATE) scale, including its Japanese version (PATE‐J), to survey 113 Japanese and 130 Malaysian participants. Demographic data and PATE scores were compared using t‐tests and χ² tests. Covariance analysis (ANCOVA) was conducted to adjust for potential confounding factors such as age and education level. Results No significant differences were found in PATE total scores (P = 0.484), general domain (P = 0.101), or personal domain (P = 0.217) between Japan and Malaysia. However, after adjusting for age and education using ANCOVA, education significantly influenced the general domain (F = 4.512, P = 0.012) and total scores (F = 3.302, P = 0.038), while country (F = 7.191, P = 0.008) and age (F = 6.633, P = 0.011) were significant for the personal domain. Malaysian participants were significantly younger (P < 0.001) and had higher education levels (P < 0.001) compared to Japanese participants. Conclusion While no significant differences in epilepsy‐related stigma were observed between Japan and Malaysia, demographic variations in age, education, and regional characteristics may have masked potential cultural differences. The adjusted analysis underscores the importance of controlling for these factors to better elucidate cultural influences on epilepsy stigma formation in Asia.
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spelling doaj-art-7b16b914ecac4e1cb1c44f22188531782025-08-20T02:41:45ZengWileyPCN Reports2769-25582025-03-0141n/an/a10.1002/pcn5.70063Comparative cultural study using the Public Attitudes Toward Epilepsy Scale (PATE scale) in Japan and MalaysiaHiroumi Shimazaki0Takayuki Iwayama1Sayaka Kobayashi2Junichi Hatakeda3Zhi Jien Chia4Haruo Yoshimasu5Kheng Seang Lim6Izumi Kuramochi7Public Interest Foundation of Nishi Kumagaya Hospital Saitama JapanDepartment of Psychiatry Saitama Medical Center, Saitama Medical University Saitama JapanDepartment of Psychiatry Saitama Medical Center, Saitama Medical University Saitama JapanDepartment of Psychiatry Saitama Medical Center, Saitama Medical University Saitama JapanDivision of Neurology, Department of Medicine Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya Kuala Lumpur MalaysiaDepartment of Psychiatry Saitama Medical Center, Saitama Medical University Saitama JapanDivision of Neurology, Department of Medicine Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya Kuala Lumpur MalaysiaDepartment of Psychiatry Saitama Medical Center, Saitama Medical University Saitama JapanAbstract Aim Epilepsy‐related stigma significantly impacts quality of life, with severity noted in Asian countries. This study compared public attitudes towards epilepsy in Japan and Malaysia, two Asian nations with distinct religious and healthcare backgrounds. Methods We used the Public Attitudes Toward Epilepsy (PATE) scale, including its Japanese version (PATE‐J), to survey 113 Japanese and 130 Malaysian participants. Demographic data and PATE scores were compared using t‐tests and χ² tests. Covariance analysis (ANCOVA) was conducted to adjust for potential confounding factors such as age and education level. Results No significant differences were found in PATE total scores (P = 0.484), general domain (P = 0.101), or personal domain (P = 0.217) between Japan and Malaysia. However, after adjusting for age and education using ANCOVA, education significantly influenced the general domain (F = 4.512, P = 0.012) and total scores (F = 3.302, P = 0.038), while country (F = 7.191, P = 0.008) and age (F = 6.633, P = 0.011) were significant for the personal domain. Malaysian participants were significantly younger (P < 0.001) and had higher education levels (P < 0.001) compared to Japanese participants. Conclusion While no significant differences in epilepsy‐related stigma were observed between Japan and Malaysia, demographic variations in age, education, and regional characteristics may have masked potential cultural differences. The adjusted analysis underscores the importance of controlling for these factors to better elucidate cultural influences on epilepsy stigma formation in Asia.https://doi.org/10.1002/pcn5.70063cross‐cultural studygeneral domainpersonal domainpeople with epilepsy (PWE)stigma
spellingShingle Hiroumi Shimazaki
Takayuki Iwayama
Sayaka Kobayashi
Junichi Hatakeda
Zhi Jien Chia
Haruo Yoshimasu
Kheng Seang Lim
Izumi Kuramochi
Comparative cultural study using the Public Attitudes Toward Epilepsy Scale (PATE scale) in Japan and Malaysia
PCN Reports
cross‐cultural study
general domain
personal domain
people with epilepsy (PWE)
stigma
title Comparative cultural study using the Public Attitudes Toward Epilepsy Scale (PATE scale) in Japan and Malaysia
title_full Comparative cultural study using the Public Attitudes Toward Epilepsy Scale (PATE scale) in Japan and Malaysia
title_fullStr Comparative cultural study using the Public Attitudes Toward Epilepsy Scale (PATE scale) in Japan and Malaysia
title_full_unstemmed Comparative cultural study using the Public Attitudes Toward Epilepsy Scale (PATE scale) in Japan and Malaysia
title_short Comparative cultural study using the Public Attitudes Toward Epilepsy Scale (PATE scale) in Japan and Malaysia
title_sort comparative cultural study using the public attitudes toward epilepsy scale pate scale in japan and malaysia
topic cross‐cultural study
general domain
personal domain
people with epilepsy (PWE)
stigma
url https://doi.org/10.1002/pcn5.70063
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