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WITHDRAWN: Specialist epilepsy nurses for treating epilepsy
The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews
|February 7, 2008
Summary
Specialist epilepsy nurses may improve epilepsy knowledge for newly diagnosed patients, but overall evidence for improved outcomes is limited. Further research is needed to confirm their effectiveness in epilepsy care.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Evidence-based practice
- Healthcare services research
Background:
- Epilepsy affects 0.5% of the population, necessitating improved quality of care.
- Two proposed models for enhanced epilepsy care include specialist outpatient clinics and nurse-based liaison services.
- These models aim to improve upon standard care provided in general neurology or medical clinics.
Purpose of the Study:
- To systematically review evidence from controlled trials on the effectiveness of specialist epilepsy nurses.
- To compare the outcomes of specialist epilepsy nurse interventions with routine care for individuals with epilepsy.
Main Methods:
- Searched multiple databases including Cochrane Central Register, MEDLINE, EMBASE, and PsycINFO up to October 2004.
- Included randomized controlled and quasi-randomized trials comparing specialist epilepsy nurse interventions to standard care.
- Two reviewers independently selected trials and extracted data on seizure frequency, medication, psychosocial functioning, knowledge, costs, and adverse effects.
Main Results:
- Three heterogeneous trials were included (two in general practice, one in neurology).
- No convincing evidence was found that specialist epilepsy nurses improve overall outcomes for people with epilepsy.
- Significant improvements were not observed in seizure frequency, psychosocial functioning, knowledge, general health, work days lost, or depression/anxiety scores.
Conclusions:
- While specialist epilepsy nurses are plausibly beneficial for epilepsy care quality, current evidence is limited due to a small research base.
- Further research is required to establish the effectiveness of specialist epilepsy nurses.
- Recommendations for widespread implementation cannot be made without more robust evidence.
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