Frequency and factors associated with emergency department attendance for people with epilepsy in a rural UK population.
Epilepsy Behav
; 68: 192-195, 2017 03.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-28219054
ABSTRACT
Attendance at UK Emergency Departments (EDs) for people with epilepsy (PWE) following a seizure can be unnecessary and costly. The characteristics of PWE attending a UK rural district ED in a 12-month period were examined to foster better understanding of relevant psycho-social factors associated with ED use by conducting cross-sectional interviews using standardized questionnaires. Of the total participants (n=46), approximately one-third of the study cohort attended ED on three or more occasions in the 12-month study period and accounted for 65% of total ED attendances reported. Seizure frequency and lower social deprivation status were associated with increased ED attendance while factors such as knowledge of epilepsy, medication management, and stigma were not. Similarities in frequency of repeat attendees were comparable to a study in urban population but other factors varied considerable. Our findings suggest that regular ED attendees may be appropriate for specific enhanced intervention though consideration needs to be given to the fact that population characteristics may vary across regions.
Key words
Full text:
1
Collection:
01-internacional
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Rural Population
/
Emergency Service, Hospital
/
Epilepsy
Type of study:
Observational_studies
/
Prevalence_studies
/
Risk_factors_studies
Aspects:
Determinantes_sociais_saude
Limits:
Adult
/
Aged
/
Female
/
Humans
/
Male
/
Middle aged
Language:
En
Journal:
Epilepsy Behav
Journal subject:
CIENCIAS DO COMPORTAMENTO
/
NEUROLOGIA
Year:
2017
Document type:
Article
Affiliation country:
United kingdom