Epilepsy clinics versus general neurology or medical clinics.

BACKGROUND

Epilepsy is the most common serious neurological condition after stroke, with a 0.5 per cent prevalence, and a two to three per cent life time risk of being given a diagnosis of epilepsy in the developed world. As a result of perceived deficiencies of the quality of care offered to people with epilepsy, two models of service provision have been suggested by researchers: specialist epilepsy out-patient clinics (as opposed to the management of patients in general neurology clinics or general medical clinics) and nurse-based liaison services between primary (GP) and secondary/tertiary (hospital based) care.

OBJECTIVES

The aim of this review was to overview the evidence from controlled trials investigating the effectiveness of specialist epilepsy clinics compared to routine care. A second similar review investigating the effectiveness of specialist epilepsy nurses is also underway.

SEARCH STRATEGY

We searched the Cochrane Epilepsy Group trials register, the Cochrane Controlled Trials Register (Cochrane Library Issue 4, 1999), MEDLINE (January 1966 to December 1999), GEARS, BIDS (EMBASE=Excepta Medica(1998-99)), ECRI, Effectiveness Healthcare Bulletin, Effectiveness Matters, Bandolier, Evidence Based Purchasing, National Research Register, Vignettes and expert panels from Standing Group on Health Technology Assessment, PsycLit database, World Wide Web sites and reference lists of articles. In addition, we contacted experts in the field.

SELECTION CRITERIA

All randomized controlled and quasi-randomized trials which considered specialist epilepsy clinic interventions with standard or alternative care were included in this review.

DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS

No controlled trials of suitable quality were identified for inclusion in the review.

MAIN RESULTS

No controlled trials of suitable quality were identified for inclusion in the review.

REVIEWER'S CONCLUSIONS: It is not known whether specialist epilepsy clinics improve outcomes for people with epilepsy. As yet, there is no high quality evidence which describes their effectiveness in improving care for people with epilepsy.