Feasibility and effects of nurse run clinics for patients with epilepsy in general practice: randomised controlled trial. Epilepsy Care Evaluation Group.
OBJECTIVE
To test the feasibility and effect of nurse run epilepsy clinics in primary care.


METHODS
A randomised controlled trial of nurse run clinics versus "usual care."


METHODS
Six general practices in the South Thames region.


METHODS
251 patients aged over 15 years who were taking anti-epileptic drugs or had a diagnosis of epilepsy and an attack in the past two years who met specified inclusion criteria and had responded to a questionnaire.


METHODS
Questionnaire responses and recording of key variables extracted from the clinical records before and after the intervention.


RESULTS
127 patients were randomised to a nurse run clinic, of whom 106 (83%) attended. The nurse wrote 28 letters to the general practitioners suggesting changes in epilepsy management. For this intervention group compared with the usual care group there was a highly significant improvement in the level of advice recorded as having been given on drug compliance, adverse drug effects, driving, alcohol intake, and self help groups.


CONCLUSIONS
Nurse run clinics for patients with epilepsy were feasible and well attended. Such clinics can significantly improve the level of advice and drug management recorded.
Ridsdale
L
L
Division of General Practice and Primary Care, United Medical School Guy's Hospital, London.
Robins
D
D
Cryer
C
C
Williams
H
H
D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000451:nursing*; D005194:Family Practice; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009737:Nursing Records; D010353:Patient Education as Topic
D000927:Anticonvulsants