The social context and the need of information from patients with epilepsy: evaluating a tertiary referral service

• Main Authors: Priscila Freitas-Lima, Edna Almeida Monteiro, Lígia Ribeiro Horta Macedo, Sandra Souza Funayama, Flávia Isaura Santi Ferreira, Ivair Matias Júnior, Geisa Angelis, Adriana Maria Arantes Nogueira, Veriano Alexandre, Tonicarlo Rodrigues Velasco, Ana Paula Pinheiro-Martins, Américo Ceiki Sakamoto
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Academia Brasileira de Neurologia (ABNEURO) 2015-04-01
• Series: Arquivos de Neuro-Psiquiatria
• Subjects: epilepsia; avaliação social; informação; serviço ambulatorial
• Online Access: http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0004-282X2015000400298&lng=en&tlng=en

Objective Characterize the social profile and the need of information from patients with refractory epilepsy. Method A semi-structured questionnaire was applied to 103 patients to investigate sociodemographic aspects, pharmacotherapy and any doubts about epilepsy. Results Patients were highly dependent on having a free and accessible supply of antiepileptic drugs. Sixty-eight percent of the population was unemployed, and 26% confirmed receiving social security benefits due to epilepsy. Twenty-nine percent of the population reached high school. Eighty-five percent of the patients had at least one doubt about epilepsy; treatment and epilepsy aspects in general were the main topics. Conclusion : As observed in developed countries, patients with refractory epilepsy from a developing country also have high rates of unemployment and low educational levels. The results raise a concern about the need of information about epilepsy by patients and their families, urging the necessity to invest in strategies to solve this deficiency in knowledge.