Characteristics of patients with epilepsy who use a website providing healthcare information about epilepsy in South Korea.

We studied characteristics of epilepsy patients who use 'Epilia', a healthcare website for epilepsy patients, and the impact of 'Epilia' on patient satisfaction and attitude about epilepsy. A total of 153 epilepsy patients from 'Epilia' (online group) and 367 patients from epilepsy clinics (offline group) were recruited. A survey was done to investigate their socio-demographic, epilepsy-related, and psychological characteristics, as well as attitude alterations after beginning to use 'Epilia'. Factors affecting attitude were also identified in the online group. Online group had more severe and more frequent seizures, more adverse effects, more anxiety and depression, and worse quality of life than offline group. Online group patients who are more satisfied, who take two or more antiepileptic drugs, who visit to 'Epilia' more and longer had a greater positive attitude change than those without these characteristics. A healthcare website can contribute to self-management by providing useful information and education for epilepsy patients.

Prevalence of treated epilepsy in Korea based on national health insurance data.

The Korean national health security system covers the entire population and all medical facilities. We aimed to estimate epilepsy prevalence, anticonvulsant utilization pattern and the cost. We identified prevalent epilepsy patients by the prescription of anticonvulsants under the diagnostic codes suggesting seizure or epilepsy from 2007 Korean National Health Insurance databases. The information of demography, residential area, the kind of medical security service reflecting economic status, anticonvulsants, and the costs was extracted. The overall prevalence of treated epilepsy patients was 2.41/1,000, and higher for men than women. The age-specific prevalence was the lowest in those in their thirties and forties. Epilepsy was more prevalent among lower-income individuals receiving medical aid. The regional prevalence was the highest in Jeju Island and lowest in Ulsan city. New anticonvulsants were more frequently used than old anticonvulsants in the younger age group. The total annual cost of epilepsy or seizure reached 0.46% of total medical expenditure and 0.27% of total expenditure on health. This is the first nationwide epidemiological report issued on epilepsy in Korea. Epilepsy prevalence in Korea is comparable to those in developed countries. Economic status and geography affect the prevalence of epilepsy.