Article
Families’ Knowledge Change in Paediatric Drug Resistant Epilepsy: A Novel Clinic Model
Seizure
(2023)
Abstract
Background: Epilepsy is a chronic condition that affects approximately 95,000 Ontarians, of whom approximately 15,000 are children under the age of 18. Drug resistant epilepsy (DRE) will affect around 30% of these children who will require more advanced care due to their medical complexities. The purpose of this study is to determine if receiving care in a paediatric Comprehensive Epilepsy Clinic (CEC) is associated with positive outcomes for children living with for Drug Resistant Epilepsies (DRE) and their families by looking at three health outcomes: 1) families’ knowledge of their child’s diagnosis and treatment plan, 2) navigational access to both the hospital and community epilepsy services, and 3) health behaviours.
Methods: This was a prospective cohort study in which families of children diagnosed with DRE would be exposed to a CEC care model for the first time and followed for 6-months after enrollment. This was analyzed by utilizing surveys from new families at baseline and 6 months post receiving care within a CEC.
Results: Results revealed a statistical significance in change of knowledge in families knowing the type of epilepsy their child has and what epilepsy co-morbidities are. Families also had a significant change in utilizing hospital epilepsy resources and knowing who to contact in the community and hospital for their epilepsy related questions.
Conclusion: A comprehensive epilepsy clinic model improves family’s knowledge about epilepsy diagnosis and treatment plan, navigational access to both the hospital and community epilepsy services, and health behaviours.
Disciplines
Publication Date
Spring 2023
Citation Information
Michelle Kregel, Sherry Coulson, Maryam Nabavi Nouri, Rochelle Sorzano, et al.. "Families’ Knowledge Change in Paediatric Drug Resistant Epilepsy: A Novel Clinic Model" Seizure (2023) Available at: http://works.bepress.com/michelle-kregel/2/