An epileptic seizure is a clinical event presumed to result from an abnormal and excessive neuronal discharge. The clinical symptoms are paroxysmal and may include impaired consciousness and motor, sensory, autonomic, or psychic events perceived by the subject or an observer. Epilepsy occurs when 2 or more epileptic seizures occur unprovoked by any immediately identifiable cause. And in the majority of patients with epilepsy, antiepileptic drugs effectively control their illness. However, more than 30% of people with epilepsy do not attain full seizure control, even with the best available treatment regimen. The aim of this study is to assess self-reported adherence in adult patients with epilepsy and to identify potential barriers for nonadherence to antiepileptic drug treatment in Dessie Referral Hospital. A hospital based cross-sectional study was conducted using structured questionnaires including Morisky medication adherence scale and analysis was conducted descriptively using SPSS version 20. The level of nonadherence to antiepileptic medication regimens was 34.1%. The major reason for missing medication was forgetfulness 53.5%. And the most common side effect was sedation 56.2%.
An epileptic seizure is a clinical event presumed to result from an abnormal and excessive neuronal discharge. The clinical symptoms are paroxysmal and may include impaired consciousness and motor, sensory, autonomic, or psychic events perceived by the subject or an observer. Epilepsy occurs when 2 or more epileptic seizures occur unprovoked by any immediately identifiable cause. The seizures must occur more than 24 hours apart. In epidemiologic studies, an episode of status epilepticus is considered a single seizure. Febrile seizures and neonatal seizures are excluded from this category [
Epileptic seizures are classified as cryptogenic or symptomatic. A cryptogenic seizure is a seizure of unknown etiology, and it is not associated with a previous central nervous system (CNS) insult known to increase the risk of developing epilepsy. A cryptogenic seizure does not conform to the criteria for the idiopathic or symptomatic categories [
In the majority of patients with epilepsy, antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) effectively control their illness. However, more than 30% of people with epilepsy do not attain full seizure control even with the best available treatment regimen [
Medication nonadherence can have adverse effects on clinical and economic outcomes [
Studies indicated that between 25% and 75% of people with epilepsy fail to follow prescribed drug regimens. This reduces the benefit that could be gained from antiepileptic drug leading to uncontrolled epilepsy and reduces quality of life [
A research was done in Nigeria, to assess patients' adherence to antiepileptic drugs. From 120 subjects information was obtained about patients’ baseline characteristics, estimated monthly income, and determinants of adherence. Adherence to the AEDs was categorized as good, moderate, or poor. Good adherence was recorded in 70% of participants; 26.7% had moderate adherence and poor in remaining 3.3%. Education was statistically significantly associated with adherence. And the adherence rate among patients in this study was high despite poor control of seizure [
In a study carried out in UK Southampton General Hospital, to investigate nonadherence to antiepileptic drug treatment among patients with epilepsy in secondary care and the associations between adherence and seizure control, perceptions of illness and medication, anxiety and depression, of 54 patients, 59% were estimated to be nonadherent to medication. And there was a negative correlation between adherence and frequency of seizures and patients with poorly controlled epilepsy were more anxious and expected a longer duration of their epilepsy [
A study conducted in Asia, to assess rate of adherence in patients with epilepsy who missed their medications and reasons for nonadherence indicated that of a total of 368 patients studied 48.1% of patients were nonadherent with regard to AEDs. There were no demographic differences (based on gender, age, seizure type, and rural or urban location) between adherent and nonadherent patients. Adherence was positively and significantly correlated with duration of illness (
This study was conducted from April to June 2017 in Dessie Referral Hospital, which is located 401 km North of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, Amhara Region, South Wollo zone. Dessie Referral Hospital is a large institution serving Dessie town and the surrounding population of about 7 million.
Since the total epileptic patients in Dessie Referral Hospital were 112, all the patients were included in the study but patients who did not consent to participate and incomplete questionnaires were also excluded from the study. And some did not met the inclusion criteria. Patients above the age of 60 yrs were not included the study. All patients of either gender aged below 18 years, diagnosed with epilepsy and with no change in antiepileptic drug therapy in the last 3 months, attending the outpatient Departments of Medicine, Neurology, inpatients of medical wards, or those presenting to the emergency room of a tertiary care hospital were not recruited. This made the sample size to a convenience sample of
To extract data, a structured interview questionnaire was administered to the study participants. The questioner contained sections that assessed sociodemographic, medication adherence, and questions related to antiepileptic drug use. The questionnaire was first prepared in English and translated into Amharic, the local language, and back translated to English to ensure that it retained its intended meaning. The questionnaire was pretested to identify potential problem and unanticipated interpretations, to any of the questions on 10 respondents having similar characteristics at the same facility to the study subjects on nonparticipants.
The data collected in the present study were entered to and analyzed using Statistical Packages for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 20. In the analysis, frequencies and percentages were used in the description of the data collected.
Ethical approval was obtained from the ethical review committee of Department of Pharmacy, College of Medicine and Health Science, Wollo University, and letter of permission was obtained from the hospital neurologic clinic based on the request of the department. Besides, study participants were asked for informed oral consent and their information was maintained confidentially.
From all epileptic patients (112) that have follow-up in DRH, only
Out of 88 respondents, 55(62.5%) were males. Majority of the patients were in the age range of 18-38 (78.4%) and only 4 (4.8%) patients were above the age of 52.
Majority of the respondents 54 (61.4%) were Muslim by religion and half of the total patients were single. And about 51 (58%) of the patients have got access to primary education.
Around 20 (22.7%) of the respondents were student, 19 (21.6%) were daily labor, and 15 (17%) were government employee. And 26 (29.5%) of the patients have got an income in the ranges of 500-1000.
From the total sample size of 88 patients, 33 (37.5%) of them experienced side effect from their AEDs. And sedation was the most common side effect which was perceived by the patients 18 (56.2%). Details of the types of side effects experienced by the patients are presented in (Table
Perceived type of side effect experienced by patients due to AED regimen at DRH, Dessie, Ethiopia, from April to June 2017.
| | |
---|---|---|
Rash | 3 | 9.1 |
Sedation | 18 | 54.5 |
Gingival hyperplasia | 7 | 21.2 |
| ||
Cognitive impairment | 4 | 12.1 |
Gastrointestinal discomfort | 1 | 3.1 |
Total | 33 | 100 |
Based on MMAS 58 (65.9%) of patients were classified as adherent.
71 (80.7%) of patients missed the AED.
Forgetfulness was reported as a major reason by 38 (53.5%) of the patients and 18 (25.4%) of the patients miss their medication because of busy work schedules (Table
Patient’s reason for missing their antiepileptic medication at DRH, Dessie, Ethiopia, from April to June 2017.
| | |
---|---|---|
Forgetfulness | 38 | 53.5 |
Being busy | 18 | 25.4 |
Too many medication | 2 | 2.8 |
Lack of hope on medications | 2 | 2.8 |
| ||
Side effect | 5 | 7.1 |
Cost | 6 | 8.4 |
Total | 71 | 100.0 |
Around 34 (38.6%) of the respondents know that epilepsy is a neurological disease but some of the patients 26 (29.5%) had no idea of their illness and some 26 (29.5%) think that their illness is spiritual.
40 (44.6%) of the patients were on AEDs for more than 1 year and 26 (31.3%) were started recently (6 month-1 year) (Figure
Patient’s duration on AEDs at DRH, Dessie, Ethiopia, from April to June 2017.
Only 16 (18.2%) of patients took another medication in addition to their AEDs.
From 88 patients, only 12(13.6%) of them had any other chronic illness. And from those who had chronic illness 6 (50%) reported that it is heart failure, and 3 (25%) of them said that it is stroke (Table
Epileptic patients with other chronic illness at DRH, Dessie, Ethiopia, from April to June 22 2017.
| Frequency | Percent (%) |
---|---|---|
Heart failure | 6 | 50 |
Stroke | 3 | 25 |
Others | 3 | 25 |
Total | 12 | 100.0 |
Key: other RVI.
The Pearson chi square test was used to determine whether an association exists or not between the dependent variable (the level of patients adherence) and the independent variables (sex, monthly income, educational status, age, duration on AED treatment, comorbid conditions, and other medications taken with AEDs). Among determinants of adherence assessed in this study, level of education and side effect of drugs show statistical significance. Most side effects were associated with a significantly reduced likelihood of adherence (Table
Association of Adherence with possible determinants of adherence at DRH, Dessie, Ethiopia, from April to June 2015.
Variable | Adherent | Nonadherent | total | p-value |
---|---|---|---|---|
Sex | ||||
Male | 35 | 20 | 55 | |
female | 23 | 10 | 33 | 0.561 |
| ||||
Income | ||||
<1000 | 32 | 26 | 58 | |
>1000 | 20 | 10 | 30 | 0.421 |
| ||||
education | ||||
illiterate | 6 | 4 | 10 | 0.014 |
educated | 52 | 26 | 78 | |
| ||||
Age | ||||
<52 | 54 | 30 | 84 | 0.623 |
>52 | 4 | 0 | 4 | |
| ||||
duration | ||||
<1 year | 30 | 18 | 48 | 0.325 |
>1 year | 28 | 12 | 40 | |
| ||||
Other medicines | ||||
Yes | 11 | 5 | 16 | 0.791 |
No | 47 | 25 | 72 | |
| ||||
comorbid | ||||
Yes | 8 | 4 | 12 | 0.952 |
No | 50 | 26 | 76 | |
| ||||
Side effect | ||||
Yes | 26 | 7 | 33 | 0.048 |
No | 32 | 23 | 55 |
This study showed that 34.1% of patients attending in Dessie Referral Hospital were nonadherent. And this finding was similar to a study done by Tefera Abula (30%) in Ethiopia [
Other studies showed that drug nonadherence among epilepsy patients ranges from 30% to 70% Buck D et al. [
Self-reported adherence was considered by many investigators as a good tool for adherence assessment but others reported that patients tend to overvalue their adherence [
Forgetfulness 53.5% was the primary reason for missing their medication which was followed by being busy 25.4% in this study. Other studies also exposed this factor: a study done in Asia by Tu, Luong Mac et al. revealed forgetfulness or not having medication on hand 69.6%, as the major reason for being nonadherent which was followed by a negative attitude 12.8% [
In this study only 38.6% of the patients knew that epilepsy as a neurological disorder. But the others thought that as a spiritual disease (29.5%) and some they did not even have a clue about the disease (29.5%). A study done in Jimma by Getachew H et al. also revealed that 53.3% of patients had no idea about epilepsy and 18.8% thought that as a spiritual disease [
Among determinants of adherence assessed in this study, level of education and side effect of drugs show statistical significance. And this finding was similar to a study done in Nigeria by Dr Sunday O et al. [
The other sociodemographic variables assessed in this study like age, sex, and monthly income were not associated with adherence. This finding was also seen on a study done by Dr Sunday O et al. in Nigeria [
In conclusion more than two-thirds of the study participants were found to be adherent to their AEDs treatment and forgetfulness which is followed by being busy which is the main reason for being nonadherent. In this study one-third of the patients had experienced side effects. And sedation was the commonest side effect faced by the patients. Among the determinants of adherence assessed, the level of education and side effect of drugs showed that statistical significance.
Antiepileptic drugs
Dessie Referral Hospital
Morisky medication adherence scale
Retroviral Infection.
The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest.
All authors contributed toward data analysis, drafting, and critically revising the paper and agree to be accountable for all aspects of the work.
The authors acknowledge the support of the School of Pharmacy, Wollo University, in facilitating the data collection process. The authors are also thankful for the data collectors and patients who participated with them in the research.