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Intervention Review

Self-management education for adults with epilepsy

  1. Elizabeth J Shaw1,*,
  2. Tim Stokes2,
  3. Janette Camosso-Stefinovic3,
  4. Richard Baker3,
  5. Gus A Baker4,
  6. Ann Jacoby5

Editorial Group: Cochrane Epilepsy Group

Published Online: 7 OCT 2009

Assessed as up-to-date: 20 FEB 2007

DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD004723.pub2

Database Title

Additional Information

How to Cite

Shaw EJ, Stokes T, Camosso-Stefinovic J, Baker R, Baker GA, Jacoby A. Self-management education for adults with epilepsy. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2007, Issue 2. Art. No.: CD004723. DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD004723.pub2.

Author Information

  1. 1

    National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence, Manchester, UK

  2. 2

    National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE), Centre for Clinical Practice, Manchester, UK

  3. 3

    University of Leicester, Department of Health Sciences, Leicester, UK

  4. 4

    Clinical Sciences Centre for Research & Education, University Department of Neurological Science, Liverpool, Merseyside, UK

  5. 5

    The University of Liverpool, Division of Public Health, Liverpool, UK

*Elizabeth J Shaw, National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence, Level 1A, City Plaza, Piccadilly Plaza, Manchester, M1 4BD, UK. beth.shaw@nice.org.uk.

Publication History

  1. Publication Status: Edited (no change to conclusions)
  2. Published Online: 7 OCT 2009

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Abstract

  1. Top of page
  2. Abstract
  3. Plain language summary

Background

Self-management education has been shown to improve the quality of life of people with chronic illnesses. It has been suggested that self-management education may improve seizure control and other outcomes in people with epilepsy.

Objectives

To review systematically the research literature on the effectiveness of self-management education in improving health outcomes for adults with epilepsy.

Search strategy

We searched MEDLINE (Ovid) (1966 to April 2005), EMBASE (Ovid) (1980 to April 2005), CINAHL (Dialog) (1980 to April 2005), PsycINFO (Dialog) (1887 to April 2005), and the Cochrane Epilepsy Group's Specialised Register (April 2005). We also handsearched Epilepsia and conference abstracts and proceedings. Experts in the field were contacted to identify any additional trials. We did not impose any language restriction. We re-ran the searches in February 2007 and added the identified references to the 'Studies awaiting assessment' table.

Selection criteria

Randomised trials of self-management education programmes for adults with epilepsy.

Data collection and analysis

At least two review authors independently assessed the quality of each study and extracted data.

Main results

Two trials evaluated the effect of self-management education for adults with epilepsy, neither of which assessed as being of high quality. In total, 483 adults with epilepsy were randomised. Both trials showed improvements in seizure frequency and other outcomes, such as knowledge. However, we were not able to estimate a summary effect for seizure frequency due to a lack of data.

Authors' conclusions

Self-management education programmes, based on increasing understanding through psychosocial methods, may improve knowledge about epilepsy, certain behavioural outcomes, and reduce seizure frequency. It is, however, not clear how effective self-management programmes of epilepsy would be in a more general population of adults with epilepsy, as both trials had higher proportions of people with partial seizures than would be expected in a community sample.

 

Plain language summary

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  2. Abstract
  3. Plain language summary

Self-management education for adults with epilepsy

There is increased interest in the use of self-management education which helps patients to become 'experts' in their own illness. This is particularly important for people with long-term illnesses, such as epilepsy. Epilepsy self-management programmes can include a variety of actions that can be taken by people with epilepsy to improve their quality of life; such as taking antiepileptic medication as prescribed, changing one's lifestyle to control seizure frequency, physical safety, and addressing difficulties at work or in social situations.

Self-management education may reduce the number of seizures, and improve other aspects of people's lives such as fear and knowledge about epilepsy.

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