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Antiseizure Drug Adherence in Pediatric Patients With Epilepsy and the Associated Factors in Saudi Arabia

Ola A Shawky1, Shaima A Althoubaiti2, Reham M Alkahtani2

  • 1Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Taif University, Taif, Saudi Arabia.

Neurosciences (Riyadh, Saudi Arabia)
|July 8, 2026
PubMed

Insights

Pediatric epilepsy medication adherence in Saudi Arabia is suboptimal, with 58% of children non-adherent. Key factors for better adherence include mothers as caregivers and good caregiver knowledge.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Neurology
  • Pharmacology
  • Public Health

Background:

  • Pediatric epilepsy significantly impacts children's well-being and quality of life.
  • Adherence to antiseizure medications is crucial for improved health outcomes in children with epilepsy.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine the prevalence of adherence to antiseizure medications among children with epilepsy in Saudi Arabia.
  • To identify factors associated with medication adherence in this pediatric population.

Main Methods:

  • Cross-sectional study involving 231 children (≤17 years) with epilepsy in Saudi Arabia.
  • Online self-administered questionnaire using the MMAS-8 scale for adherence assessment.
  • Data collected via social platforms (Telegram, WhatsApp) between July and September 2024.

Main Results:

  • Overall adherence to antiseizure medications was 42.0% (35.9% medium, 6.1% high), with 58% non-adherent.
  • Good caregiver knowledge (63.6%) was significantly associated with better medication adherence.
  • Mothers as caregivers, once-daily dosing, no emergency room visits, and concurrent medication use were linked to higher adherence.

Conclusions:

  • Medication adherence among pediatric epilepsy patients in Saudi Arabia remains suboptimal.
  • Maternal caregiving, enhanced caregiver knowledge, simplified dosing, and reduced emergency visits are key to improving adherence.
  • Increased awareness and education are vital for optimizing epilepsy management and healthcare delivery.
Abstract

Keywords:
AdherenceAntiseizure drugsKSAPediatric epilepsySaudi Arabia

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