Chunsong Yang1, Dan Yu2, Jiayuan Li3, Lingli Zhang4. 1. Department of Pharmacy, Evidence-based Pharmacy Center, West China Second Hospital, Sichuan University, Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Related Diseases of Women and Children (Sichuan University), Ministry of Education, China; Department of Epidemiology, West China School of Public Health, and West China Fourth Hospital, Sichuan University, China. 2. Department of Pediatric Neurology, West China Second Hospital, Sichuan University, Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Related Diseases of Women and Children (Sichuan University), Ministry of Education, China. 3. Department of Epidemiology, West China School of Public Health, and West China Fourth Hospital, Sichuan University, China. Electronic address: lijiayuan73@163.com. 4. Department of Pharmacy, Evidence-based Pharmacy Center, West China Second Hospital, Sichuan University, Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Related Diseases of Women and Children (Sichuan University), Ministry of Education, China. Electronic address: zhlingli@sina.com.
Abstract
PURPOSE: The purpose of the study was to evaluate adherence to prescribed antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) and influencing factors in children with epilepsy from western China. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, children with epilepsy were recruited from Western China Second Hospital. Questionnaires were used to collect baseline patient data and medication adherence, which was assessed using the Morisky scale. An ordinal logistic regression model was used to examine the factors affecting medication adherence. RESULTS: In total, 399 children were included. The age of participants ranged from 0.3 to 17.8 years, with a male-to-female ratio of 1.36:1. Overall, 57.1% (228/399) had generalized seizures. Further, 21.3% (85/399) patients showed good adherence, 51.4% (205/399) moderate adherence, and 27.3% (109/399) poor adherence. Ordered multiclassification logistic regression analysis showed that the age of patient, type of epilepsy, total household income, and source of drug information were associated with adherence. CONCLUSIONS: Medication adherence is not high in children with epilepsy from western China. Medication adherence is affected by many factors, and we suggest that efforts are focused on tailored approaches to epilepsy education and behavioral interventions for better adherence.
PURPOSE: The purpose of the study was to evaluate adherence to prescribed antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) and influencing factors in children with epilepsy from western China. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, children with epilepsy were recruited from Western China Second Hospital. Questionnaires were used to collect baseline patient data and medication adherence, which was assessed using the Morisky scale. An ordinal logistic regression model was used to examine the factors affecting medication adherence. RESULTS: In total, 399 children were included. The age of participants ranged from 0.3 to 17.8 years, with a male-to-female ratio of 1.36:1. Overall, 57.1% (228/399) had generalized seizures. Further, 21.3% (85/399) patients showed good adherence, 51.4% (205/399) moderate adherence, and 27.3% (109/399) poor adherence. Ordered multiclassification logistic regression analysis showed that the age of patient, type of epilepsy, total household income, and source of drug information were associated with adherence. CONCLUSIONS: Medication adherence is not high in children with epilepsy from western China. Medication adherence is affected by many factors, and we suggest that efforts are focused on tailored approaches to epilepsy education and behavioral interventions for better adherence.