Measuring patient satisfaction following epilepsy surgery

To systematically review primary research examining patient satisfaction with epilepsy surgery in order to obtain evidence-based estimates of this surgical outcome; to assess methods used to measure epilepsy surgery satisfaction, overall epilepsy surgery satisfaction ratings, and predictors of epilepsy surgery satisfaction.

Systematic review of published studies in English up to June 2009, focusing on patient satisfaction with all types of epilepsy surgery in patients of all ages. We excluded studies that focused on satisfaction with epilepsy treatment in general, on quality of life without specific exploration of patient satisfaction with surgery, and on satisfaction with the process of health care delivery, rather than with surgery and its outcomes.

Eight studies met inclusion criteria. Satisfaction was assessed using one or more global questions. Four epilepsy surgery satisfaction question content patterns emerged: (1) satisfied or dissatisfied, (2) perceived success or failure, (3) overall positive or negative impact, and (4) willingness to repeat surgery or regretting surgery. Overall 71% were satisfied; 64% considered it a success; it had a positive effect for 78%; and 87% would repeat surgery. Seizure freedom was the most common predictor of epilepsy surgery satisfaction, whereas postoperative neurologic deficit predicted dissatisfaction.

Patient satisfaction with interventions is an important aspect of patient-centered care, but it has received little attention in epilepsy surgery. Future research is required to develop and validate epilepsy surgery satisfaction tools. We provide preliminary guiding principles for measuring satisfaction after epilepsy surgery.