title: Frequency and factors associated with emergency department attendance for people with epilepsy in a rural UK population.
abstract: Attendance at UK Emergency Departments (EDs) for people with epilepsy (PWE) following a seizure can be unnecessary and costly. The characteristics of PWE attending a UK rural district ED in a 12-month period were examined to foster better understanding of relevant psycho-social factors associated with ED use by conducting cross-sectional interviews using standardized questionnaires. Of the total participants (n=46), approximately one-third of the study cohort attended ED on three or more occasions in the 12-month study period and accounted for 65% of total ED attendances reported. Seizure frequency and lower social deprivation status were associated with increased ED attendance while factors such as knowledge of epilepsy, medication management, and stigma were not. Similarities in frequency of repeat attendees were comparable to a study in urban population but other factors varied considerable. Our findings suggest that regular ED attendees may be appropriate for specific enhanced intervention though consideration needs to be given to the fact that population characteristics may vary across regions.
authors.affiliation: Cornwall Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, UK.
authors.forename: Jon
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Allard
authors.affiliation: Cornwall Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, UK; Exeter Medical School, UK. Electronic address: Rohit.shankar@nhs.net.
authors.forename: Rohit
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Shankar
authors.affiliation: Exeter Medical School, UK.
authors.forename: William
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Henley
authors.affiliation: Exeter Medical School, UK.
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Brown
authors.affiliation: Royal Cornwall Hospital Trusts, UK.
authors.forename: Brendan
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: McLean
authors.affiliation: Royal Cornwall Hospital Trusts, UK.
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Jadav
authors.affiliation: Royal Cornwall Hospital Trusts, UK.
authors.forename: Mary
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Parrett
authors.affiliation: Cornwall Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, UK; Exeter Medical School, UK.
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Laugharne
authors.affiliation: University of Liverpool, UK.
authors.forename: Adam J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Noble
authors.affiliation: Kings College London, UK.
authors.forename: Leone
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ridsdale
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012424:Rural Population; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: Deprivation; Emergency Department; Epilepsy; Hospital; Seizure