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Disparities in access to specialized epilepsy care
Nicholas K Schiltz1, Siran M Koroukian, Mendel E Singer
1Department of Epidemiology & Biostatistics, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, United States.
Epilepsy Research
|September 7, 2013
Summary
Access to specialized epilepsy care is influenced by where patients live and their insurance status. Community and individual factors create disparities in care for people with epilepsy (PWE).
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Health Services Research
- Public Health
Background:
- Access to specialized epilepsy care is crucial for managing persistent seizures.
- Disparities in healthcare access exist based on socioeconomic and geographic factors.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate how individual and community characteristics affect access to specialized epilepsy care.
- To identify barriers to high-quality epilepsy care.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective cross-sectional study using California healthcare databases linked with epilepsy center locations.
- Video-EEG monitoring used as a proxy for specialized epilepsy care access.
- Hierarchical logistic regression analyzed individual and community-level factors.
Main Results:
- Proximity to epilepsy centers improved access (OR: 1.81).
- Insurance status significantly impacted access; uninsured and publicly insured individuals faced greater gaps.
- Individual factors like age, race/ethnicity, and comorbidities also contributed to access disparities.
Conclusions:
- Both individual patient attributes and community resources significantly influence access to specialized epilepsy care.
- Targeted policy interventions are needed to address disparities and improve care access for people with epilepsy.
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