Epilepsy training seminars

The Malta Epilepsy Association, in conjunction with the Department of Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics at the University of Malta, the Bethel Epilepsy Centre in Germany, the Epilepsy Centre in Budapest, and the European Epilepsy Academy, recently hosted two training seminars, one in Malta and one in Gozo, under the auspices of an EU-funded Grundtvig project concerning the Education for Professionals Allied to Medicine (PAMS) working in Epilepsy.

Epilepsy is the most common serious brain disorder worldwide and 15 million people, both males and females, in Europe, will have epilepsy at some time in their lives, with profound physical, psychological, social and economic consequences. This learning partnership aims to mobilise resources and improve competence among the partners for training, education of the adults working in the medical field with an interest in epilepsy (PAMs) such as neuroimaging specialists, pharmacologists, EEG technicians, neuropsychologists, sociologists, nurses, social workers, social educators, remedial educators, occupational therapists, pharmacists and physiotherapists as well as the persons with epilepsy themselves.

Dr Janet Mifsud, the co-ordinator of the project, explained that there are ongoing rapid, scientific developments in the various interdisciplinary medical interventions required in epilepsy, and several PAMs would never have had the opportunity to learn, in an organised manner, the concepts and skills required for these new tools.

This project will help to establish co-operation in Europe in this area of adult training, and PAMs would have greater motivation to continue learning and improve their interpersonal and interdisciplinary skills in order to overcome the fragmented education presently being undertaken by these adults. This project will help to improve the quality of care to persons with epilepsy.

The Maltese participants included staff from Eden Foundation, Id-Dar tal-Providenza, EEG technicians, facilitators and pharmacists. A similar session was also held in Gozo for members of Adult Training Centre, Arka Foundation, facilitators and teachers.