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D'Onofrio G, Ramachandran Nair R, Reid AY, Kobayashi E, Jones K, Bui E, Fantaneanu TA, Appendino JP. Fostering Education in Epilepsy: A Canadian League Against Epilepsy Teaching Initiative. Can J Neurol Sci 2024:1-6. [PMID: 38523490 DOI: 10.1017/cjn.2024.45] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/26/2024]
Abstract
The Canadian League Against Epilepsy initiated a virtual epilepsy education program, conducting 29 webinars from March 2021 to September 2023. We report our experience, with the goal to inspire other groups to develop inclusive, equitable, and free educational spaces with a worldwide reach. Monthly sessions drew a median attendance of 118 participants, predominantly Canadian but also international, including physicians (58.9%) and trainees (22.8%). Post-webinar surveys (average 40% response rate) noted high satisfaction, a strong inclination to recommend the sessions, and an interest in clinical case-based topics. We plan to consider integrating a self-assessment section evaluating knowledge gained after each seminar.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gianluca D'Onofrio
- Department of Neurosciences, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics, Maternal and Child Health, Università degli Studi di Genova, Genova, Italy
- Department of Neurosciences, Division of Pediatric Neurology, CHU Sainte-Justine, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | | | - Aylin Y Reid
- University Health Network, Krembil Research Institute, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Division of Neurology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Eliane Kobayashi
- Neurology and Neurosurgery Department, Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Kevin Jones
- Division of Neurology, Department of Pediatrics, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
| | - Esther Bui
- Division of Neurology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Tadeu A Fantaneanu
- Division of Neurology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
- Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, The Ottawa Hospital, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Juan Pablo Appendino
- Department of Pediatrics, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
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Yang C, Liu J, Zhang L, Huang X. Treatment access barriers and medication adherence among children with epilepsy in western China: A cross-sectional study. Epilepsy Behav 2023; 149:109511. [PMID: 37944284 DOI: 10.1016/j.yebeh.2023.109511] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2023] [Revised: 10/24/2023] [Accepted: 10/26/2023] [Indexed: 11/12/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE This study aimed to evaluate treatment access barriers and medication adherence among children with epilepsy and explore the influencing factors. METHODS This cross-sectional study consecutively sampled children with epilepsy from pediatric neurology clinics at West China Second Hospital of Sichuan University from October 2022 to April 2023. The scale used to assess treatment access barriers was self-designed and medication adherence was assessed with the Morisky Medication Adherence Scale. Multivariate linear or logistic regression analyses were used to determine influencing factors. RESULTS This study included 1,847 children with epilepsy. The majority of caregivers of participating children had treatment access barriers, especially for making appointments, obtaining diagnosis and examination results, and response from the care team (scores > 3). Younger age of children, difficulty paying medical expenses, comorbidities, higher frequency of seizures in the past month, and attitude toward seizures were associated with high treatment access barriers scores. Poor medication adherence was observed in 38 % (702/1,847) of the sample. Age, being an only child, place of residence, annual medical expense, being newly diagnosed, and comorbidities were associated with medication adherence. CONCLUSIONS Among children with epilepsy, there is high demand for disease treatment but medication adherence is relatively low, and there are a range of influencing factors. We suggest medical personnel strengthen health education and regular follow-ups to improve medication adherence and meet treatment needs in this population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chunsong Yang
- Department of Pharmacy, Evidence-based Pharmacy Center, West China second hospital, Sichuan University, China; Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Related Diseases of Women and Children (Sichuan University), Ministry of Education, China
| | - Jianing Liu
- West China School of pharmacy, Sichuan University, China
| | - Lingli Zhang
- Department of Pharmacy, Evidence-based Pharmacy Center, West China second hospital, Sichuan University, China; Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Related Diseases of Women and Children (Sichuan University), Ministry of Education, China.
| | - Xi Huang
- Department of Neonatal Nursing, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University/West China School of Nursing, Sichuan University, China.
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Şahin Yıldız Y, Dülger H, Kasapoğlu ES. Web-based training for future healthcare professionals who will care for elderly individuals with epilepsy receiving home care: A quasi-experimental study. Epilepsy Behav 2023; 145:109285. [PMID: 37295314 DOI: 10.1016/j.yebeh.2023.109285] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2023] [Revised: 05/16/2023] [Accepted: 05/23/2023] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The need for home care for elderly people with epilepsy is increasing. This study aims to determine the knowledge and attitudes of the students and examine the effect of the web-based epilepsy education program given to health students who will care for elderly individuals with epilepsy receiving home care. METHODS This quasi-experimental study with a control group pre-post-test research design was conducted with 112 students (intervention: 32/control: 80) studying in the Department of Health Care Services (home care, elderly care) in Turkey. The sociodemographic information form, Epilepsy Knowledge Scale, and Epilepsy Attitude Scale were used for data collection. Web-based training in three two-hour sessions focusing on the medical and social aspects of epilepsy was applied to the intervention group in this study. RESULTS It was found that the epilepsy knowledge scale score of the intervention group increased from 5.56 (±4.96) to 13.15 (±2.56), and the epilepsy attitude scale score increased from 54.12 (±9.73) to 62.31 (±7.07) after the training. After the training; there was a significant difference in all items except the 5th item in the knowledge scale and the 14th item in the attitude scale (p < 0.05). SIGNIFICANCE In the study; it has been found that the web-based epilepsy education program provided increases students' knowledge and develops positive attitudes. This study will provide evidence for strategies to be developed to improve the quality of care for elderly patients with epilepsy who are cared for at home.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yasemin Şahin Yıldız
- Department of Home Patient Care, Vocational College of Health Services, University of Bartın, Bartın, Turkey.
| | - Hanifi Dülger
- Department of Midwifery, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Bartın, Bartın, Turkey.
| | - Elçin Sebahat Kasapoğlu
- Department of Elderly Care, Vocational College of Health Services, University of Bartın, Bartın, Turkey.
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Zhu XR, Zhu ZR, Wang LX, Zhao T, Han X. Prevalence and risk factors for depression and anxiety in adult patients with epilepsy: Caregivers' anxiety and place of residence do mater. Epilepsy Behav 2022; 129:108628. [PMID: 35245762 DOI: 10.1016/j.yebeh.2022.108628] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2021] [Revised: 02/05/2022] [Accepted: 02/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES This study was aimed to assess the prevalence of anxiety and depression and the possible contributions of the caregiver's anxiety and depression, disease status, and socio-demographic characteristics to psychopathological comorbidities among adult patients with epilepsy. METHODS A total of 262 participants (131 adult patient-caregiver pairs) were enrolled in this study. The Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HAM-D) and the Hamilton Rating Scale for Anxiety (HAM-A) were applied to evaluate the depression and anxiety status among adult patients with epilepsy and their caregivers, respectively. We collected caregivers' anxiety and depression, patients' sociodemographic characteristic data, and disease status as independent variables using stepwise multiple linear regression analysis that were correlated to the degree of anxiety and depression among these adult patients with epilepsy. RESULTS Among adult patients with epilepsy, 46 (35.11%) subjects showed anxiety symptoms (HAM-A scores > 6), and 48 (36.64%) had depression symptoms (HAM-D scores > 6). Caregivers' anxiety levels and place of residence were significant independent predictors of both anxiety and depression levels among adult patients with epilepsy. CONCLUSIONS Adult patients with epilepsy are at a high risk of suffering from anxiety and depression. Caregivers' anxiety and place of residence are definite independent predictors for anxiety and depression severity among adult patients with epilepsy. Therefore, clinicians should be careful in closely monitoring the psychological status of adult patients with epilepsy and their caregivers. Furthermore, the government and medical institutions should increase educational awareness about epilepsy and its cure, especially among adult patients with epilepsy who live in rural areas and consider offering a multidisciplinary management program to improve these patients' psychological status.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xue-Rui Zhu
- Department of Neuroelectrophysiology, Zhengzhou Seventh People's Hospital, Henan Province, Zhengzhou 450003, China; Department of Neurology, Henan Provincial People's Hospital, Zhengzhou University People's Hospital, Zhengzhou 450003, China
| | - Zhi-Rui Zhu
- Department of Cardiology, Zhengzhou Seventh People's Hospital, Henan Province, Zhengzhou 450003, China
| | - Li-Xia Wang
- Department of Neuroelectrophysiology, Zhengzhou Seventh People's Hospital, Henan Province, Zhengzhou 450003, China
| | - Ting Zhao
- Department of Neurology, Henan Provincial People's Hospital, Zhengzhou University People's Hospital, Zhengzhou 450003, China
| | - Xiong Han
- Department of Neurology, Henan Provincial People's Hospital, Zhengzhou University People's Hospital, Zhengzhou 450003, China.
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Yang L, Lu Q, Tang W, Ji J, Tang P, Jiang Y, Li D, Quan Y. Teachers' experiences of managing children with epilepsy in school: A qualitative study. Epilepsy Behav 2021; 121:108039. [PMID: 34098252 DOI: 10.1016/j.yebeh.2021.108039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2021] [Revised: 05/03/2021] [Accepted: 05/04/2021] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND School is the second most important environment for children second to the family. An increasing number of children with epilepsy (CWE) are able to go back to school to continue to study after treatment. In school, CWE can be involved in studies and activities, which is conducive to their growth. However, CWE have to face more barriers than other children in school, such as cognitive impairment, poor attendance, school absenteeism, and learning disability. What is more, even if CWE have been taking antiepileptic medicines, they still have a risk of seizure. Therefore, it is important to ensure the safety of CWE in the school. Teachers play a significant part in managing CWE in school, so we aimed to deeply explore the experiences of school teachers in managing CWE during school. METHOD Purposive sampling was used to recruit teachers (n = 17) who cared for children with epilepsy in their class. Semi-structured interviews were used to access qualitative data. Framework analysis was used to analyze qualitative data. RESULT Five major themes emerged after analyzing: the recognition of epilepsy, the attitude to children with epilepsy, the barriers to communicate with parents about epilepsy, the reaction to a seizure, and the need for training. CONCLUSION The findings of this qualitative study reported teachers' knowledge of and attitude toward epilepsy, the barriers for them to communicate with parents, the reaction to seizure, and the need for training. Although teachers know little about epilepsy, they have a positive attitude toward CWE. There are many obstacles in terms of the communication between teachers and parents. Parents' cover-ups and teachers' lack of professional training will put teachers and CWE at risk. In view of the fact that teachers and parents are not professionals, it is necessary for hospitals to play a coordinating role between the two.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liling Yang
- School of Nursing, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, No.227 Chongqing South Road, Shanghai, China
| | - Qunfeng Lu
- Nursing Department, Children's Hospital of Shanghai, No.355 Luding Road, Shanghai, China.
| | - Wenjuan Tang
- Nursing Department, Children's Hospital of Shanghai, No.355 Luding Road, Shanghai, China
| | - Jianlin Ji
- School of Nursing, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, No.227 Chongqing South Road, Shanghai, China
| | - Ping Tang
- School of Nursing, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, No.227 Chongqing South Road, Shanghai, China
| | - Yan Jiang
- Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Children's Hospital of Shanghai, No.355 Luding Road, Shanghai, China
| | - Dong Li
- The School Affiliated with Caoyang No.2 High School, No.108 Tongbai Road, Shanghai, China
| | - Yanjing Quan
- The School Affiliated with Caoyang No.2 High School, No.108 Tongbai Road, Shanghai, China
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The effect of a seminar on medical students' information acquisition of and attitudes toward epilepsy. Epilepsy Behav 2021; 116:107720. [PMID: 33485166 DOI: 10.1016/j.yebeh.2020.107720] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2020] [Revised: 12/15/2020] [Accepted: 12/15/2020] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
AIM The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of a brief seminar focusing on medical and social aspects of epilepsy on information acquisition of and attitudes toward epilepsy among medical school students. METHOD The sample of this pretest-posttest study consisted of 57 fifth-grade medical students. The students participated in a one-hour seminar including medical and social aspects of epilepsy. An epilepsy-related awareness form developed by researchers and also the Epilepsy Attitude Scale were applied to the participants before and after the seminar. RESULTS It was determined that half of the students (50.9%) encountered an epileptic seizure and 12.3% of them applied first aid. The students had difficulty in describing the seizure type before education. Before education, the rate of describing the seizure was 47.4% for myoclonic seizure, 50.9% for simple partial seizure, and 64.9% for absence seizure, and after education, these rates increased to 82.5% (p < 0.001), 91.2% (p < 0.001), and 98.2% (p < 0.001), respectively. Students generally well described the seizure triggering factors; however, the rate of students reporting the menstrual period as triggering factors were lower (66.7%), and the rates increased after the education (93.0%) (p = 0.001). The percentages of correct answers increased also for the questions regarding seizure first aid. The percentage of students who felt competent for seizure first-aid management increased from 12.3% to 91.2% (p < 0.001) after the education. The correct response rates of students for social aspects of epilepsy was generally high. In our study, attitude toward epilepsy was also evaluated. After the education, a mild increase in the attitude score of students was found (p = 0.009). Although it is minimal, the number of students who marked more positive attitude increased for each item of the Attitude scale. CONCLUSION Although a lack of acquaintance was found in some areas, awareness of epilepsy in our sample was at a moderate level. This study showed a positive effect of the education given to students on information acquisition and attitude.
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