Kirkpatrick Laura, Bellinski Irena I, Gerard Elizabeth E, McElrath Thomas, Pack Alison M, Meador Kimford J, Pennell Page B
Departments of Pediatrics and Neurology, University of Pittsburgh, PA.
Ken and Ruth Davee Department of Neurology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL.
Neurol Clin Pract. 2025 Feb;15(1):e200420. doi: 10.1212/CPJ.0000000000200420. Epub 2024 Dec 18.
Cisgender women with epilepsy (WWE) have distinct reproductive health needs. It is unknown to what extent WWE and their health care providers (HCPs) are aware of recent research advances regarding the reproductive health of WWE. This study aimed to survey US health care providers and WWE about their knowledge, attitudes, and decision-making pertaining to reproductive health; their awareness of key findings from recent relevant research; and whether learning of these findings would change their decision-making.
A market research firm conducted an online survey of US health care providers and WWE using a proprietary nationally representative panel. Eligible HCPs included physicians and advance practice providers in neurology, obstetrics-gynecology, and primary care, who treat WWE. Eligible WWE were 18-45 years old and reported an epilepsy diagnosis and taking antiseizure medication. Data were analyzed through descriptive statistics and logistic regression.
Four hundred one HCPs and 199 WWE completed the full survey. Among HCPs, 38% reported being very or extremely comfortable treating pregnant WWE. Seventy-nine percent of HCPs reported that recent relevant research findings were new to them, with 65% reporting that the findings seemed plausible and 49% reporting that the findings would probably or definitely change their management of pregnancy for WWE.Thirty percent of WWE reported that pregnancy is very or extremely safe for WWE, while 50% reported that it is somewhat safe, and 21% not at all or not very safe. Ninety-one percent of WWE reported that research findings were new to them, 37% reported that the findings seemed plausible, and 64% reported that the findings would probably or definitely influence their reproductive decision-making.
Survey findings suggest suboptimal awareness of recent research advances pertaining to the reproductive health of WWE among WWE and their HCPs. Findings also suggest that dissemination and implementation of such findings may be impactful on the medical decision-making of both HCPs and WWE. Findings may guide future initiatives to ensure prompt dissemination and implementation of research advances in epilepsy and reproductive health.
患有癫痫的顺性别女性（WWE）有独特的生殖健康需求。目前尚不清楚WWE及其医疗服务提供者（HCP）对WWE生殖健康方面的最新研究进展了解程度如何。本研究旨在调查美国医疗服务提供者和WWE关于他们在生殖健康方面的知识、态度和决策；他们对近期相关研究关键发现的知晓情况；以及了解这些发现是否会改变他们的决策。
一家市场研究公司使用一个具有全国代表性的专有小组对美国医疗服务提供者和WWE进行了在线调查。符合条件的HCP包括治疗WWE的神经科、妇产科和初级保健领域的医生及高级执业提供者。符合条件的WWE年龄在18至45岁之间，报告有癫痫诊断且正在服用抗癫痫药物。通过描述性统计和逻辑回归分析数据。
401名HCP和199名WWE完成了完整调查。在HCP中，38%报告在治疗怀孕的WWE时非常或极其自信。79%的HCP报告近期相关研究发现对他们来说是新的，65%报告这些发现似乎合理，49%报告这些发现可能或肯定会改变他们对WWE怀孕的管理方式。30%的WWE报告怀孕对WWE非常或极其安全，而50%报告有点安全，21%报告完全不安全或不太安全。91%的WWE报告研究发现对他们来说是新的，37%报告这些发现似乎合理，64%报告这些发现可能或肯定会影响他们的生殖决策。
调查结果表明WWE及其HCP对WWE生殖健康方面的最新研究进展认识不足。研究结果还表明，传播和实施这些发现可能会对HCP和WWE的医疗决策产生影响。这些发现可能会指导未来的举措，以确保及时传播和实施癫痫与生殖健康方面的研究进展。
