title: Compliance with health regimens of adolescents with epilepsy.
abstract: The purpose of this paper was to describe the compliance of adolescents with epilepsy and some factors connected to it. Altogether 300 individuals with epilepsy aged 13-17 years were randomly selected from the Finnish Social Insurance Institution's register. Every fifth person on the list was included in the sample. Seventy-seven per cent (n= 232) of the selected adolescents with epilepsy returned a questionnaire sent to them relating to compliance. The data were analysed using the SPSS software. Twenty-two per cent of the adolescents with epilepsy felt that they complied fully with their suggested health regimens, while 44% placed themselves in the category of "satisfactory compliance", and the remaining 34% reported poor compliance. Compliance with their recommended life-style was poorest, while the highest degree of compliance was recorded for medication. Background variables, such as the duration of the disease, exercise, smoking, alcohol-intake and the number of seizures, were statistically significantly related to compliance (P< 0.001). Good motivation, a strong sense of normality, experience of results, subjective outcome, energy and will-power, support from parents, physicians and nurses, and a positive attitude towards to the disease and its treatment, no threat to social and emotional well-being and no fears of complications and no fear of seizures explained good compliance (P< 0.001).
authors.affiliation: Kagawa Medical University, School of Nursing, Ikenobe, Ohwaza, Miki-Cho, Kida-Gun, Kagawa-Ken, 1750-1, Japan 761-07.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kyngäs
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D005387:Finland; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D010349:Patient Compliance / Q000523:psychology*; D012648:Self Care / Q000523:psychology; D012803:Sick Role; D012944:Social Support