title: The social context and the need of information from patients with epilepsy: evaluating a tertiary referral service.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Characterize the social profile and the need of information from patients with refractory epilepsy.
  
  
  METHODS
  A semi-structured questionnaire was applied to 103 patients to investigate sociodemographic aspects, pharmacotherapy and any doubts about epilepsy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Patients were highly dependent on having a free and accessible supply of antiepileptic drugs. Sixty-eight percent of the population was unemployed, and 26% confirmed receiving social security benefits due to epilepsy. Twenty-nine percent of the population reached high school. Eighty-five percent of the patients had at least one doubt about epilepsy; treatment and epilepsy aspects in general were the main topics.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  As observed in developed countries, patients with refractory epilepsy from a developing country also have high rates of unemployment and low educational levels. The results raise a concern about the need of information about epilepsy by patients and their families, urging the necessity to invest in strategies to solve this deficiency in knowledge.
authors.affiliation: Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Ribeirao Preto, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Priscila
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Freitas-Lima
authors.affiliation: Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Ribeirao Preto, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Edna Almeida
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Monteiro
authors.affiliation: Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Ribeirao Preto, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Lígia Ribeiro Horta
authors.initials: LR
authors.lastname: Macedo
authors.affiliation: Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Ribeirao Preto, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Sandra Souza
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Funayama
authors.affiliation: Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Ribeirao Preto, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Flávia Isaura Santi
authors.initials: FI
authors.lastname: Ferreira
authors.affiliation: Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Ribeirao Preto, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Ivair
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Matias Júnior
authors.affiliation: Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Ribeirao Preto, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Geisa
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Angelis
authors.affiliation: Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Ribeirao Preto, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Adriana Maria Arantes
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Nogueira
authors.affiliation: Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Ribeirao Preto, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Veriano
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Alexandre
authors.affiliation: Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Ribeirao Preto, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Tonicarlo Rodrigues
authors.initials: TR
authors.lastname: Velasco
authors.affiliation: Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Ribeirao Preto, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Ana Paula
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Pinheiro-Martins
authors.affiliation: Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Ribeirao Preto, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Américo Ceiki
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Sakamoto
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012943:Social Security; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D062606:Tertiary Care Centers / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014478:Unemployment / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
chemical_list: D000927:Anticonvulsants