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Gender, medication use, and education: Key factors affecting motor development in toddlers under epilepsy treatment
Mustafa Bostanci1, Ayşe Güler Küçükturan2
1Bursa Uludag University Hospital, Child Development Department Bursa, Turkey.
Insights
Longer antiepileptic drug use in children with epilepsy is linked to delays in psychomotor skills. However, increased education duration can positively impact these skills, potentially mitigating medication effects.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Neurology
- Developmental Pediatrics
- Clinical Pharmacy
Background:
- Epilepsy affects children's development, with antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) potentially influencing psychomotor skills.
- Understanding factors like medication duration and education is crucial for optimizing developmental outcomes in children with epilepsy.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of gender, AED duration, and education on psychomotor skills in 24-36-month-old children with epilepsy.
- To identify potential mitigating factors for developmental delays associated with epilepsy and its treatment.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional survey of 173 children (24-36 months) diagnosed with epilepsy and on AEDs.
- Utilized the Denver II Developmental Screening Test for data collection.
- Employed Independent Sample t-test and ANOVA for statistical analysis, with eta squared for effect size.
Main Results:
- No significant gender-based differences in fine or gross motor skills were observed.
- Increased duration of AED use correlated with delays in both fine and gross motor skills (moderate effect).
- Higher educational levels were associated with improved fine and gross motor skills, particularly for gross motor function.
Conclusions:
- Long-term AED use may lead to psychomotor skill delays in young children with epilepsy.
- Educational status and duration of education appear to mitigate these delays, especially for gross motor skills.
Objective:
This study aims to investigate whether gender, duration of medication use, and participation in education create differences in psychomotor skills in children aged 24-36 months diagnosed with epilepsy and using antiepileptic drugs.
Methods:
The study was conducted with 173 children who were diagnosed with epilepsy and receiving medication, all of whom applied to the Bursa Uludağ University Health Practice and Research Center. The research was carried out in the city of Bursa, located in the western region of Turkey, and is therefore based on a sample drawn from a regional healthcare center. In this study, participants were selected according to purposive sampling criteria, and a cross-sectional survey method within a quantitative research design was employed. Data were collected using the "Denver II Developmental Screening Test" and analyzed using the Independent Sample t-test and ANOVA. ANOVA was conducted to determine whether there was a difference between the scores obtained by the children and the scores they were expected to achieve in relation to the duration of medication usage. Effect sizes were determined using eta squared values in the comparisons.
Results:
In children aged 24-36 months with epilepsy, there were no statistically significant differences in fine and gross motor skill scores based on gender. However, statistically significant differences were found in fine and gross motor skill scores in relation to the duration of medication use. As the duration of medication use increased, delays in fine and gross motor skills were observed, indicating a moderate effect. Additionally, significant differences in fine and gross motor skill scores were noted according to educational level, with scores increasing as the duration of education increased. Notably, the impact of education on gross motor skills was found to be particularly strong.
Conclusions:
These findings suggest that delays in fine and gross motor skills due to long-term medication use can be mitigated by educational status and the duration of education.
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