Unyime Israel Eshiet1, Jegbgefume Matthew Okonta2, Chinwe Victoria Ukwe2. 1. Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Biopharmacy, University of Uyo, Uyo, Nigeria. unyimeeshiet@uniuyo.edu.ng. 2. Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Pharmacy Management, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: The involvement of pharmacists in the provision of specialised care to patients with epilepsy is poor. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the impact of pharmaceutical care services on the clinical outcomes of epilepsy. SETTING: Two selected major referral epilepsy treatment centres in southern Nigeria were used for the study. Patients were recruited from the Neurology and Medical out-patient clinics of the hospitals. METHOD: An open randomised controlled study was carried out on epilepsy patients receiving clinical care at the selected hospitals. Patients in the intervention group were offered pharmaceutical care services. The impact of the pharmaceutical care services on the clinical outcomes of epilepsy (seizure frequency and severity) was evaluated. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: The effect of pharmaceutical care services on seizure frequency and severity in patients with epilepsy. RESULTS: There was a statistically significant difference between the usual care (UC) and the pharmaceutical care (PC) group on the clinical outcomes of epilepsy post-PC intervention. Comparison between the groups (UC versus PC) revealed that patients in the PC group had a significantly lower seizure frequency score than those in the UC group at 3 months and 6 months-(pre-intervention: 3.09 versus 3.34; t = -1.685; p = 0.094) (3 months 2.45 versus 1.68; t = 4.494; p = 0.001), (6 months: 1.97 versus 0.92; t = -3.137; p = 0.001). Also, comparisons between the groups (UC versus PC) showed that patients in the PC group had a significantly lower seizure severity score than those in the UC group at 3 months and 6 months-(pre-intervention 18.46 versus 20.38; t = -3.102; p = 0.01) (3 months: 17.51 versus 14.79; t = 4.202; p = 0.001) (6 months 16.41 versus 11.66; t = 8.930; p = 0.001). CONCLUSION: Pharmaceutical care interventions may significantly reduce seizure frequency and severity in patients with epilepsy. IMPACT OF FINDINGS ON PRACTICE: These findings provide justification for the integration of pharmaceutical care services with other elements of health care for epilepsy patients.
BACKGROUND: The involvement of pharmacists in the provision of specialised care to patients with epilepsy is poor. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the impact of pharmaceutical care services on the clinical outcomes of epilepsy. SETTING: Two selected major referral epilepsy treatment centres in southern Nigeria were used for the study. Patients were recruited from the Neurology and Medical out-patient clinics of the hospitals. METHOD: An open randomised controlled study was carried out on epilepsy patients receiving clinical care at the selected hospitals. Patients in the intervention group were offered pharmaceutical care services. The impact of the pharmaceutical care services on the clinical outcomes of epilepsy (seizure frequency and severity) was evaluated. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: The effect of pharmaceutical care services on seizure frequency and severity in patients with epilepsy. RESULTS: There was a statistically significant difference between the usual care (UC) and the pharmaceutical care (PC) group on the clinical outcomes of epilepsy post-PC intervention. Comparison between the groups (UC versus PC) revealed that patients in the PC group had a significantly lower seizure frequency score than those in the UC group at 3 months and 6 months-(pre-intervention: 3.09 versus 3.34; t = -1.685; p = 0.094) (3 months 2.45 versus 1.68; t = 4.494; p = 0.001), (6 months: 1.97 versus 0.92; t = -3.137; p = 0.001). Also, comparisons between the groups (UC versus PC) showed that patients in the PC group had a significantly lower seizure severity score than those in the UC group at 3 months and 6 months-(pre-intervention 18.46 versus 20.38; t = -3.102; p = 0.01) (3 months: 17.51 versus 14.79; t = 4.202; p = 0.001) (6 months 16.41 versus 11.66; t = 8.930; p = 0.001). CONCLUSION: Pharmaceutical care interventions may significantly reduce seizure frequency and severity in patients with epilepsy. IMPACT OF FINDINGS ON PRACTICE: These findings provide justification for the integration of pharmaceutical care services with other elements of health care for epilepsy patients.