Impact of a pharmacist-led education and counseling interventions on quality of life in epilepsy: A randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND

The impact of epilepsy on the quality of life of the patient can be considerably high with far-reaching and life-long consequences. The goal of patient counseling and education is to achieve positive clinical outcomes and optimize the patient's health-related quality of life.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the impact of a pharmacist-led education and counselling interventions on the health-related quality of life of patients living with epilepsy.

METHODS

A randomized controlled trial was carried out on epilepsy patients attending the neurology/medical out-patient clinics of two tertiary hospitals. Patients in the intervention group were offered education and counselling services. The impact of the interventions on the patients' quality of life in epilepsy was evaluated using the QOLIE-10P questionnaire. The research protocol was approved by the Health Research Ethics Committees of the University of Uyo Teaching Hospital and University of Calabar Teaching Hospital (Reference numbers: UUTH/AD/S/96/VOL.XIV/571 & UCTH/HREC/33/454).

RESULTS

There was a statistically significant difference between the usual care (UC) and the pharmaceutical care (PC) group on the quality of life in epilepsy scores post-intervention. Comparisons between groups (UC versus PC) revealed that patients in the PC group had a significantly higher QOLIE score than those in the UC group at 3 months and 6 months - (Pre-intervention: 8.73 versus 7.91; t = 0.619; p = 0.537), (3 months: 9.74 versus 15.37; t = -3.34; p = 0.01), (6 months: 11.59 versus 17.01; t = -3.137; p = 0.01).

CONCLUSION

Pharmacist-led education and counselling interventions may significantly improve the quality of life of patients with epilepsy.