Correlates of epilepsy self-management in MEW Network participants: From the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Managing Epilepsy Well Network.

While self-management (S-M) skills of people living with epilepsy (PWE) are increasingly recognized as important for daily functioning and quality of life, there is limited information on overall skill levels, specific areas needing improvement, or associated correlates. The purpose of this study was to provide evidence on the S-M skills of PWE and identify the demographic and clinical correlates that could be used in targeting interventions. Data were derived from the Managing Epilepsy Well (MEW) research network database containing epilepsy S-M data on 436 PWE participating in five studies conducted recently throughout the U.S. Common data elements included sociodemographics, clinical condition, and S-M behaviors covering five domains. Descriptive statistics and multivariate regression analyses found significant variation in total and domain-specific S-M skill levels and the associated characteristics of individuals. The findings from this national sample were remarkably consistent across sites and with existing theory and prior empirical studies indicating that competencies in information and lifestyle management were significantly lower than medication, safety, and seizure management. Self-management behavior levels were higher for females and those with less education, but lower in those with depression and lower quality of life. There were no significant differences by age, race/ethnicity, marital status, or seizure frequency after adjusting for other characteristics.