The social context and the need of information from patients with epilepsy: evaluating a tertiary referral service

The social context and the need of information from patients with epilepsy: evaluating a tertiary referral service

Objective Characterize the social profile and the need of information from patients with refractory epilepsy. Method 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. Conclusion : 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.

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Freitas-Lima,Priscila, Monteiro,Edna Almeida, Macedo,Lígia Ribeiro Horta, Funayama,Sandra Souza, Ferreira,Flávia Isaura Santi, Matias Júnior,Ivair, Angelis,Geisa, Nogueira,Adriana Maria Arantes, Alexandre,Veriano, Velasco,Tonicarlo Rodrigues, Pinheiro-Martins,Ana Paula, Sakamoto,Américo Ceiki
Format: Digital revista
Language:English
Published: Academia Brasileira de Neurologia - ABNEURO 2015
Online Access:http://old.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0004-282X2015000400298
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Summary:Objective Characterize the social profile and the need of information from patients with refractory epilepsy. Method 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. Conclusion : 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.

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