Non-compliance with treatment by epileptic patients at George Provincial Hospital

Background: Non-compliance with anti-epileptic drug treatment in the George area, resulting in recurrent seizures and visits to the emergency department of the George Provincial Hospital, has been identified as a social and economic problem. The aim of this study was to determine the socio-economic...

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Main Authors: S.R. Krause, Francios C. van Rooyen, M.V.J. van Vuuren, Louis Jenkins
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: AOSIS 2007-10-01
Series:South African Family Practice
Subjects:
Online Access:https://safpj.co.za/index.php/safpj/article/view/745
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author S.R. Krause
Francios C. van Rooyen
M.V.J. van Vuuren
Louis Jenkins
author_facet S.R. Krause
Francios C. van Rooyen
M.V.J. van Vuuren
Louis Jenkins
author_sort S.R. Krause
collection DOAJ
description Background: Non-compliance with anti-epileptic drug treatment in the George area, resulting in recurrent seizures and visits to the emergency department of the George Provincial Hospital, has been identified as a social and economic problem. The aim of this study was to determine the socio-economic and medical factors, the information given to patients by healthcare workers, and the understanding of patients living with epilepsy who presented to the emergency department with seizures. Methods: A descriptive study design was employed and the data-collection tools were a questionnaire and structured interview. Results: The median age of the study population was 32 years. The patients had suffered from epilepsy for a median of two years and visited a clinic for a median of seven times a year. The median education level was primary school and three quarters had no employment or government grant. The majority did not understand the disease, the side effects of the medication and why they should be on medication. In addition, it became apparent from patient reports that healthcare workers showed a lack of counselling skills, time and appropriate knowledge. Conclusions: There is a general lack of understanding of epilepsy by the patient. Not only were the patients uninformed, but they also showed apathy towards the management of their condition.
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spelling doaj-art-57152d75f7ac425c947db9eda76830522025-08-20T04:03:17ZengAOSISSouth African Family Practice2078-61902078-62042007-10-0149910.1080/20786204.2007.10873630803Non-compliance with treatment by epileptic patients at George Provincial HospitalS.R. Krause0Francios C. van Rooyen1M.V.J. van Vuuren2Louis Jenkins3George HospitalUniversity of the Free StateUniversity of the Free StateStellenbosch University, South Africa; and, George HospitalBackground: Non-compliance with anti-epileptic drug treatment in the George area, resulting in recurrent seizures and visits to the emergency department of the George Provincial Hospital, has been identified as a social and economic problem. The aim of this study was to determine the socio-economic and medical factors, the information given to patients by healthcare workers, and the understanding of patients living with epilepsy who presented to the emergency department with seizures. Methods: A descriptive study design was employed and the data-collection tools were a questionnaire and structured interview. Results: The median age of the study population was 32 years. The patients had suffered from epilepsy for a median of two years and visited a clinic for a median of seven times a year. The median education level was primary school and three quarters had no employment or government grant. The majority did not understand the disease, the side effects of the medication and why they should be on medication. In addition, it became apparent from patient reports that healthcare workers showed a lack of counselling skills, time and appropriate knowledge. Conclusions: There is a general lack of understanding of epilepsy by the patient. Not only were the patients uninformed, but they also showed apathy towards the management of their condition.https://safpj.co.za/index.php/safpj/article/view/745epileptic patientsgeorge provincial hospital
spellingShingle S.R. Krause
Francios C. van Rooyen
M.V.J. van Vuuren
Louis Jenkins
Non-compliance with treatment by epileptic patients at George Provincial Hospital
South African Family Practice
epileptic patients
george provincial hospital
title Non-compliance with treatment by epileptic patients at George Provincial Hospital
title_full Non-compliance with treatment by epileptic patients at George Provincial Hospital
title_fullStr Non-compliance with treatment by epileptic patients at George Provincial Hospital
title_full_unstemmed Non-compliance with treatment by epileptic patients at George Provincial Hospital
title_short Non-compliance with treatment by epileptic patients at George Provincial Hospital
title_sort non compliance with treatment by epileptic patients at george provincial hospital
topic epileptic patients
george provincial hospital
url https://safpj.co.za/index.php/safpj/article/view/745
work_keys_str_mv AT srkrause noncompliancewithtreatmentbyepilepticpatientsatgeorgeprovincialhospital
AT francioscvanrooyen noncompliancewithtreatmentbyepilepticpatientsatgeorgeprovincialhospital
AT mvjvanvuuren noncompliancewithtreatmentbyepilepticpatientsatgeorgeprovincialhospital
AT louisjenkins noncompliancewithtreatmentbyepilepticpatientsatgeorgeprovincialhospital