Adherence to Antiepileptic Regime: A Cross-sectional Survey

Epilepsy is a treatable and curable brain disorder. However major proportion of individuals with this disease in developing countries receives no treatment because of misunderstandings of the public. Other than that, poor adherence to ordered medication is considered the primary cause of drug therapy failure in epilepsy. Nonadherence, therefore, results directly in a rise in health care costs and compromised quality of life.

To assess the adherence pattern to antiepileptic regimen, among patients with epilepsy and to identify the clinical and patient-related factors associated with the adherence pattern to antiepileptic regimen.

A cross-sectional survey design was used in 100 epilepsy patients. A consecutive sampling technique was used to enrol patients who meet inclusion criteria. Structured interview from a pre-tested questionnaire and medical records review was done to collect the data. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used for the analysis of data. Descriptive statistics (mean, standard deviation, frequency and percentages) were used to describe the clinical and demographic variables of study participants. The determinants of medication adherence were analyzed using Chi-Square test.

Majority (71%) of patients were not adherent to antiepileptic treatment. The severity of seizure (indicated by the presence of seizure last year; P = 0.007), medication frequency (p = 0.001) and complexity of treatment (p = 0.003) were found to have a significant association with the AED adherence status. Status of adherence is significantly associated with frequency of seizure/year and positive life style (P=0.0001).

As Medication adherence was observed to be low, services for adherence counselling and health educational interventions in the epilepsy clinics is recommended.