HCPs - Health Care Professionals

Curricular education for Health Care Professionals (HCPs) working in the field of epilepsy

The European Epilepsy Academy - in cooperation with the ILAE Commission on Education, the IBE and other institutions - is developing a basic curriculum for Health Care Professionals in the field of epilepsy (HCPs). In different countries or cultural settings different professionals can be involved in the field of epilepsy. Therefore HCPs could be nurses, EEG technicians, (neuro-) psychologists, social worker, teachers, facilitators or others working in the field of epilepsy. As a rule, a HCP is a "significant contact person" for patients and their next ones.
A common curriculum finds its rational in the world-wide and European wide issues in epilepsy, such as

  • to understand epilepsy and its consequences in daily life
  • to learn how to cope actively with the disease
  • to strengthen self-support and initiative
  • to participate in decision-making, to become an expert in dealing with epilepsy
  • and to live with as few limitations as possible ("being part of an ordinary life fosters a feeling of belonging").
High quality standards - open to evaluations from in- and outside - and a common understanding of epilepsy and a common understanding of roles within different cultures and different multi-disciplinary teams are objectives of the HCP-project.

This project is being realized from several sides:
  • A Working Group consisting of ILAE and IBE members is developing the content of this curriculum.
  • On the basis of the content within the EU - Learning Partnership - Grundtvig 2 the most suitable didactics are being developed, and social competencies are enhanced through practice and trying out the modules.

  • Within the ILAE Commission on Education in place  from December 2005 until June 2009, Margarete Pfäfflin, MSc. had been appointed as HCP representative to assure that this project will be brought onto the ILAE educational agenda and see further development.