title: Quality of life and sense of coherence in young people and adults with uncomplicated epilepsy: A longitudinal study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the study was, in a ten-year follow-up, to describe and explore potential changes in quality of life and sense of coherence in relation to gender differences among persons with epilepsy in the transition from adolescence to adulthood.
  
  
  METHODS
  A longitudinal study of sense of coherence (SOC) and quality of life with repeated measurement design (1999, 2004, and 2009) was conducted in a population of persons (n = 69) who were aged 13-22 years in 1999 and 23-33 years in 2009. The Quality-of-Life Index (QLI) and the Sense of Coherence (SOC) scale were used.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was a significant decrease (p ≤ 0.001) in seizures compared with the 2004 results, mainly among the women (p = 0.003). When comparing the total QLI scores, no significant differences were found between the three data collections and there were no differences in total scores between men and women. There was a decrease in the SOC total score over the 10-year period study. Total SOC was significantly higher among those being 30-33 years old compared to those being 23-29 years old (p = 0.014) and among those having a driving license (p = 0.029) compared to those not having a driving license.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Both quality of life and sense of coherence are important for maintaining health and well-being. Promoting health and well-being requires effective high-quality multidisciplinary person-centered care.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Health, Science, and Technology, Department of Health Sciences, Karlstad University, Karlstad, Sweden. Electronic address: mona.persenius@kau.se.
authors.forename: Mona
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Persenius
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Health, Science, and Technology, Department of Health Sciences, Karlstad University, Karlstad, Sweden.
authors.forename: Ingrid
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Rystedt
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Health, Science, and Technology, Department of Health Sciences, Karlstad University, Karlstad, Sweden; Department of Nursing and Mental Health, Faculty of Public Health, Hedmark University College, Elverum, Norway.
authors.forename: Bodil
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Wilde-Larsson
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Health, Science, and Technology, Department of Health Sciences, Karlstad University, Karlstad, Sweden.
authors.forename: Carina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bååth
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001334:Automobile Driving; D002648:Child; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D018802:Patient-Centered Care; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life; D012640:Seizures / Q000453:epidemiology; D060685:Sense of Coherence; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Adolescents; Adults; Epilepsy; Longitudinally; Quality of life; Sense of coherence