Jones, C;
Atkinson, P;
Memon, A;
Dabydeen, L;
Das, KB;
Cross, JH;
Gillberg, C;
... Reilly, C; + view all
(2019)
Experiences and needs of parents of young children with active epilepsy: A population-based study.
Epilepsy & Behavior
, 90
pp. 37-44.
10.1016/j.yebeh.2018.10.031.
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Abstract
The aim of the study was to gain a comprehensive understanding of the experiences and needs of parents of young children with epilepsy from a total population sample. The parents (mothers (n = 38), fathers (n = 9)) of 40/53 (75% of total population) young children (1-7 years; 23 males, 17 females) with 'active' epilepsy (had a seizure in the last year or taking Anti-epileptic drugs (AEDs)) were interviewed either in person or over the telephone using a semistructured interview schedule. The families were resident in the south of the UK. The interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed, and coded using thematic analysis. Thematic analysis revealed six main themes: diagnostic journey, parental perception of epilepsy management, awareness and impact of associated neurobehavioral difficulties, inconsistent availability of therapeutic and educational supports, impact on family functioning, and need for parental support. Parents reported often having difficulty accessing a professional knowledgeable about epilepsy. While parents were generally satisfied with the initial information they received about seizures and their management, they reported that the association between epilepsy and neurobehavioral issues was often not broached. These developmental/behavioral difficulties often had a bigger impact on child wellbeing and family functioning, but provision of therapeutic and educational supports for the difficulties was often very patchy. Parents noted that early onset epilepsy and associated neurobehavioral difficulties often have a very significant impact on family functioning including increased restrictions on family activities and increased financial burden. Parents would like informational and emotional support to extend beyond the time of epilepsy diagnosis. There is a clear need for comprehensive childhood epilepsy services to include provision for identification and management of child neurobehavioral needs and a focus on family-centered care.
| Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Title: | Experiences and needs of parents of young children with active epilepsy: A population-based study |
| Location: | United States |
| Open access status: | An open access version is available from UCL Discovery |
| DOI: | 10.1016/j.yebeh.2018.10.031 |
| Publisher version: | https://doi.org/10.1016/j.yebeh.2018.10.031 |
| Language: | English |
| Additional information: | This version is the author accepted manuscript. For information on re-use, please refer to the publisher’s terms and conditions. |
| Keywords: | Children, Epilepsy, Needs, Parent |
| UCL classification: | UCL UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences > Faculty of Population Health Sciences > UCL GOS Institute of Child Health UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences > Faculty of Population Health Sciences > UCL GOS Institute of Child Health > Developmental Neurosciences Dept |
| URI: | https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/10064804 |
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