title: More effective assessment of adverse effects and comorbidities in epilepsy: results of a Phase II communication study.
abstract: Research was conducted to evaluate conversations about epilepsy between community-based neurologists and patients. Adverse effects of antiepileptic drugs and mood/behavioral issues were infrequently discussed, and neurologists and patients disagreed about these issues postvisit. Follow-up research was conducted to assess the impact of a previsit assessment tool on discussions of epilepsy. Twenty neurologists reviewed a tool incorporating questions from validated instruments (Adverse Events Profile [AEP] and Neurological Disorders Depression Inventory for Epilepsy [NDDI-E]). Naturally occurring interactions between neurologists and 60 patients were recorded. Neurologists and patients were interviewed separately. All components were transcribed and analyzed using sociolinguistics. Using the previsit assessment tool increased the number of discussions about adverse effects and mood/behavioral issues and increased neurologist-patient agreement about issues postvisit. Visit length did not increase significantly when the tool was used. Ten months after follow-up research, 50% of neurologists reported continuing to use the tool in everyday practice with patients with epilepsy.
authors.affiliation: Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
authors.forename: John M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Stern
authors.forename: David M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Labiner
authors.forename: Frank G
authors.initials: FG
authors.lastname: Gilliam
authors.forename: Patricia E
authors.initials: PE
authors.lastname: Penovich
authors.forename: Meaghan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Onofrey
authors.forename: Corey A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Eagan
authors.forename: Gregory L
authors.initials: GL
authors.lastname: Holmes
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000009:adverse effects*; D017322:Clinical Trials, Phase II as Topic; D003142:Communication; D003863:Depression / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000175:diagnosis; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007406:Interview, Psychological / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010820:Physicians / Q000523:psychology*; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000927:Anticonvulsants