Epilepsy syndromes in childhood are chronic neurological disorders that emerge during the developmental period and present with diverse clinical manifestations depending on the type, frequency, and precipitating factors of seizures (Specchio et al., 2022). While some epilepsy syndromes in childhood may remit spontaneously with age, most cases require long-term pharmacological treatment and ongoing health management (Specchio et al., 2022). During this critical period, epilepsy not only affects seizure control but also contributes to cognitive developmental delays, emotional instability, and difficulties in social interactions (Operto et al., 2023; Wagner et al., 2015). These challenges significantly affect the quality of life of affected children and impose substantial caregiving burdens on their caregivers (Reilly et al., 2015).

Effective self-management is critical for caregivers of children with epilepsy syndromes, given the ongoing demands of seizure control, medication adherence, and symptom monitoring in home settings (Samanta et al., 2022; Smith et al., 2018). Self-management for this population involves acquiring knowledge of seizure triggers and treatment regimens, as well as developing communication skills to interact with healthcare providers (Miller et al., 2020). However, caregivers often lack sufficient understanding of the condition and face difficulties navigating healthcare systems, which impedes their ability to effectively manage their child's health (Nevin et al., 2020; Samanta et al., 2022).

Building on these findings, tailored and accessible education platforms that provide the knowledge and skills needed for effective post-discharge self-care are increasingly recommended. Discharge education, typically facilitated by nurses during the hospital-to-home transition, serves as a crucial bridge between hospital care and home-based self-management (Weiss et al., 2015). It helps families translate clinical guidance into daily practices and strengthens caregivers' competence and confidence in managing chronic conditions at home (Lee et al., 2019; Li et al., 2024; Yang et al., 2024). By providing structured information, reinforcement, and emotional support, discharge education enhances caregivers' self-regulation—a key determinant of sustained self-management (Ryan & Sawin, 2009)—and ultimately contributes to better individual and family self-management outcomes after discharge.

Multimedia approaches, including video, text, and graphic materials, have been found to be more effective than conventional methods in promoting learning and retention (Glick et al., 2020; Hounsome et al., 2017). Caregivers of children with chronic conditions report higher satisfaction with educational resources that are visually rich, interactive, and personalized (Gold et al., 2020). In addition, growing evidence indicates that web-based platforms can offer accessible and tailored support that enhances caregivers' self-management capacity (Choi et al., 2021; Wu et al., 2024). From a theoretical perspective, web-based formats facilitate continuous engagement and self-assessment, which are core processes of self-management defined in the Individual and Family Self-Management Theory (IFSMT) (Ryan & Sawin, 2009). Furthermore, incorporating self-assessment methods into educational interventions can foster active learning, enabling caregivers to reflect on their understanding and identify gaps in knowledge (Boud, 2013; Yan et al., 2023).

Therefore, to address these challenges and needs, this study aimed to develop and evaluate a theory-driven, web-based discharge education program for caregivers of children with epilepsy. The program was designed to enhance self-management through evidence-based content, multimedia formats, and self-assessment tools that promote reflective learning. Grounded in the IFSMT (Ryan & Sawin, 2009), the intervention focused on supporting caregivers' knowledge, self-regulation, and social facilitation in managing their child's condition after discharge. This theory was selected because it comprehensively explains how individual and family factors interact to influence health-related behaviors, making it particularly suitable for discharge education and home-based self-management contexts.

In line with these objectives, the study addressed the following research question: “How feasible and applicable is the web-based discharge education program developed to enhance self-management among families of children with epilepsy?”