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Published on: September 20, 2024
Treatment access barriers and medication adherence among children with epilepsy in western China: A cross-sectional
Chunsong Yang1, Jianing Liu2, Lingli Zhang1
1Department of Pharmacy, Evidence-based Pharmacy Center, West China second hospital, Sichuan University, China; Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Related Diseases of Women and Children (Sichuan University), Ministry of Education, China.
Insights
Many children with epilepsy face treatment access barriers and have low medication adherence. Factors like age, cost, and comorbidities influence these challenges, highlighting the need for better health education and follow-up care.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Neurology
- Public Health
- Epilepsy Management
Background:
- Epilepsy significantly impacts children's quality of life.
- Understanding treatment access barriers and medication adherence is crucial for effective pediatric epilepsy care.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate treatment access barriers and medication adherence in children with epilepsy.
- To identify factors influencing these challenges in pediatric epilepsy management.
Main Methods:
- Cross-sectional study of 1,847 children with epilepsy.
- Utilized a self-designed scale for treatment access barriers and the Morisky Medication Adherence Scale.
- Employed multivariate regression analyses to determine influencing factors.
Main Results:
- Majority of caregivers reported treatment access barriers (appointments, results, care team response).
- Younger age, cost, comorbidities, seizure frequency, and attitude correlated with access barriers.
- 38% of children exhibited poor medication adherence, influenced by age, sibling status, residence, cost, diagnosis status, and comorbidities.
Conclusions:
- Children with epilepsy show high treatment needs but suboptimal medication adherence.
- Addressing influencing factors through enhanced health education and regular follow-ups is recommended.
- Improving adherence and access is vital for meeting treatment needs in pediatric epilepsy.
Purpose:
This study aimed to evaluate treatment access barriers and medication adherence among children with epilepsy and explore the influencing factors.
Methods:
This cross-sectional study consecutively sampled children with epilepsy from pediatric neurology clinics at West China Second Hospital of Sichuan University from October 2022 to April 2023. The scale used to assess treatment access barriers was self-designed and medication adherence was assessed with the Morisky Medication Adherence Scale. Multivariate linear or logistic regression analyses were used to determine influencing factors.
Results:
This study included 1,847 children with epilepsy. The majority of caregivers of participating children had treatment access barriers, especially for making appointments, obtaining diagnosis and examination results, and response from the care team (scores > 3). Younger age of children, difficulty paying medical expenses, comorbidities, higher frequency of seizures in the past month, and attitude toward seizures were associated with high treatment access barriers scores. Poor medication adherence was observed in 38 % (702/1,847) of the sample. Age, being an only child, place of residence, annual medical expense, being newly diagnosed, and comorbidities were associated with medication adherence.
Conclusions:
Among children with epilepsy, there is high demand for disease treatment but medication adherence is relatively low, and there are a range of influencing factors. We suggest medical personnel strengthen health education and regular follow-ups to improve medication adherence and meet treatment needs in this population.
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