title: Developing and assessing the acceptability of an epilepsy first aid training intervention for patients who visit UK emergency departments: A multi-method study of patients and professionals.
abstract: Epilepsy affects around 1% of the UK population; 40% of whom experience two or more seizures annually. However, most Emergency Department (ED) visits by people with epilepsy (PWE) are clinically unnecessary. Evidence highlights that with correct training, seizures can be safely managed by patients and their families within the community. Arguably therefore, PWE who frequently visit the ED might benefit from a self-management intervention that improves their own and their families' confidence and ability in managing seizures. Currently, no such intervention is available for PWE attending the ED. A collaborative approach (patients, carers, health professionals) was adopted to develop a patient-focused, self-management intervention. An existing group-based seizure management course, offered by the Epilepsy Society, was adapted. Collaborative feedback was sought via a base-line document review, one-to-one semi-structured interviews, and focus group discussions. The applied framework provided a systematic approach from development through to implementation. Participant feedback overall was extremely positive. People with epilepsy who visit the ED reported a positive view of epilepsy seizure first aid training and associated educational materials. Their feedback was then used to develop the optimized intervention presented here. Strengths and perceived barriers to successful implementation and participation, as well as the practical and psychosocial benefits, were identified. We describe the developed intervention together with the process followed. This description, while being project-specific, provides a useful template to assist in the development of interventions more generally. Ongoing evaluation will determine the effects of the training intervention on participants' behavior.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychological Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK. Electronic address: dsnape@liverpool.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Darlene A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Snape
authors.affiliation: Institute of Pharmaceutical Science, King's College London, London, UK.
authors.forename: Myfanwy
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Morgan
authors.affiliation: Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK.
authors.forename: Leone
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ridsdale
authors.affiliation: School of Health and Related Research, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK.
authors.forename: Steve
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Goodacre
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular and Clinical Pharmacology, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK.
authors.forename: Anthony G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Marson
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychological Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK.
authors.forename: Adam J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Noble
mesh_terms: D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D005392:First Aid; D006282:Health Personnel / Q000193:education*; D006801:Humans; D012648:Self Care; D006113:United Kingdom
keywords: Epilepsy; First aid; Seizures; Self-management education; Service user participation; Training intervention development