Assessment of quality of life in children with epilepsy in Oman

Area of Science:

• Pediatrics
• Neurology
• Quality of Life Research

Background:

• Epilepsy is a common neurological disorder in children, significantly impacting their overall well-being.
• Assessing the quality of life (QoL) is crucial for understanding the holistic impact of epilepsy on pediatric patients.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe the quality of life (QoL) experienced by Omani children diagnosed with epilepsy.
• To identify factors influencing QoL in this pediatric population.

Main Methods:

• A descriptive epidemiological study involving 101 Omani children (aged 5-18 years) with epilepsy.
• Quality of life (QoL) was assessed using the PedsQL (4.0) questionnaire (child and parent reports).
• Statistical analyses included ANOVA, Spearman's rho for agreement, and MANOVA for subscale differences.

Main Results:

• Omani children with epilepsy reported a poor quality of life (QoL), with psychosocial functioning being severely affected.
• Younger children (5-7 years) and females generally experienced lower QoL.
• Moderate to low agreement was observed between children's self-reports and parent proxy reports on the PedsQL™.

Conclusions:

• The study highlights a significant burden of poor quality of life (QoL) among Omani children with epilepsy.
• Psychosocial well-being is a critical area of concern that requires attention in epilepsy management.
• Quality of life (QoL) should be integrated as a key outcome measure in the comprehensive management of childhood epilepsy, beyond just seizure control.