title: Prevalence of epilepsy and seizure disorders in an urban minority population: a feasibility study.
abstract: Information on the frequency of epilepsy/seizure disorders and factors associated with development of epilepsy in an underprivileged urban ghetto population is urgently needed. A feasibility study was undertaken, and a questionnaire to collect information on seizure activity and behavior in the community was administered to a series of households with known seizure disorders, a series of households with chronic diseases, and a series of households chosen at random. Sensitivity and specificity of the seizure questions were estimated to be 0.93 and 0.89 respectively. The community was receptive to a survey of this type, and the overall refusal/nonresponse rate was 7.2%. Factors that would contribute to the success of an urban minority community survey are considered.
authors.affiliation: Urban Comprehensive Epilepsy Program of Los Angeles, California.
authors.forename: G E
authors.initials: GE
authors.lastname: Locke
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Lampert
authors.forename: W A
authors.initials: WA
authors.lastname: Hauser
authors.forename: D A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Levy
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Greenberg
authors.forename: N C
authors.initials: NC
authors.lastname: Wheeler
mesh_terms: D004827:Epilepsy / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D006801:Humans; D008913:Minority Groups; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D015995:Prevalence; D012640:Seizures / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014505:Urban Population