An easily performed group education programme for patients with uncontrolled epilepsy--a pilot study.
The factual knowledge of epilepsy is often insufficient among patients with this disorder. Compliance problems due to ignorance are common, and counselling is extremely important. We have developed a simple 1-day, low-cost group education programme for patients with epilepsy, intended to be suitable in routine care. The programme aims to help patients to achieve an improved understanding of the disorder and was carried out for a total of 54 consecutive patients with at least one seizure during the last year. This hospital-based 6-hour interactive course is organised by an epilepsy nurse and contains the following elements: basic knowledge about epilepsy, living with epilepsy, visit to the EEG lab, social security system and medical treatment. It was evaluated by means of a semi-structured interview and was found generally useful by all the participants. Sixty-five percent considered the sharing of experience with other patients to be the most valuable element. The ideal group size was found to be six to eight. Heterogeneity concerning age, sex and competence seemed to increase the interaction within the groups. This pilot study indicates that group education may be a useful approach in the clinic.
Helde
Grethe
G
Department of Neuroscience, Section of Neurology, Faculty of Medicine, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway
Brodtkorb
Eylert
E
Bråthen
Geir
G
Bovim
Gunnar
G
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010349:Patient Compliance; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D010865:Pilot Projects; D015397:Program Evaluation; D013997:Time Factors
D000927:Anticonvulsants