title: Assessing parents' attitudes towards ketogenic dietary therapies.
abstract: We aimed to assess and quantify parental beliefs regarding ketogenic dietary therapies (KDTs). We also aimed to determine whether beliefs were related to response to KDTs. Adapted versions of the Beliefs about Medicine Questionnaire were completed by parents of children following KDTs for epilepsy. Demographic and clinical data were collected from hospital records. Ketogenic dietary therapy response was defined as ≥50% seizure reduction compared to baseline. Many parents had a positive perception of KDTs and were convinced of the necessity of KDTs for their children, although beliefs were wide-ranging. Over half of parents reported concerns about the potential long-term effects of KDTs. Parental beliefs about KDTs were significantly correlated with patient response. This was an attempt to quantify parents' beliefs regarding the use of KDTs for their child's epilepsy. The questionnaire may be used to identify individuals with a less positive attitude towards KDTs and who may be less likely to report a favorable response to KDTs. It is unknown whether people who have positive beliefs about KDTs engage in less nonadherent behavior or whether beliefs regarding KDTs simply reflect outcomes. The evidence behind the long-term side effects of KDTs should be emphasized when counseling patients and their families.
authors.affiliation: NIHR University College London Hospitals Biomedical Research Centre, Department of Clinical and Experimental Epilepsy, UCL Institute of Neurology, London WC1N 3BG, UK; UCL Institute of Child Health, Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children, London WC1N 1EH, UK.
authors.forename: Natasha E
authors.initials: NE
authors.lastname: Schoeler
authors.affiliation: Centre for Behavioural Medicine, Department of Practice and Policy, UCL School of Pharmacy, London WC1H 9JP, UK.
authors.forename: Lindsay
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: MacDonald
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutrition & Dietetics, Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Cambridge CB2 0QQ, UK.
authors.forename: Helena
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Champion
authors.affiliation: UCL Institute of Child Health, Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children, London WC1N 1EH, UK; Young Epilepsy, Lingfield RH7 6PW, UK.
authors.forename: J Helen
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Cross
authors.affiliation: NIHR University College London Hospitals Biomedical Research Centre, Department of Clinical and Experimental Epilepsy, UCL Institute of Neurology, London WC1N 3BG, UK; Epilepsy Society, Chalfont St Peter SL9 0RJ, UK; Stichting Epilepsie Instellingen Nederland (SEIN), Heemstede, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Josemir W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Sander
authors.affiliation: NIHR University College London Hospitals Biomedical Research Centre, Department of Clinical and Experimental Epilepsy, UCL Institute of Neurology, London WC1N 3BG, UK; Epilepsy Society, Chalfont St Peter SL9 0RJ, UK. Electronic address: s.sisodiya@ion.ucl.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Sanjay M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Sisodiya
authors.affiliation: Centre for Behavioural Medicine, Department of Practice and Policy, UCL School of Pharmacy, London WC1H 9JP, UK. Electronic address: r.horne@ucl.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Rob
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Horne
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D055423:Diet, Ketogenic / Q000523:psychology*; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000178:diet therapy*; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D010290:Parents / Q000523:psychology*
keywords: Adherence; Beliefs; Epilepsy; High fat; Ketogenic diet; Low carbohydrate