Inclusion of general physicians in the multidisciplinary treatment team for epilepsy may lead to an economic benefit

Fujimoto, Ayataka; Ichikawa, Naoki; Sato, Keishiro; Nishimura, Mitsuyo; Enoki, Hideo; Okanishi, Tohru

doi:10.1016/j.yebeh.2019.03.041

Cited by 7 publications

(9 citation statements)

References 15 publications

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“…As seizure outcomes improved over the study period in the H-GP group (Table 2), it is natural that patients would want to reduce the risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection at a large hospital. In addition, a previous study found an increase in the income of epilepsy patients who were seen by local GPs, which was another reason for us to refer patients without seizures to GPs (13). Therefore, it could be said that patients and physicians were thinking similarly at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 93%

“…Regional multidisciplinary epilepsy care has been established in our region (Shizuoka, Japan) (13). Although patient flow changed during the pandemic, the number of patients in the R group increased and the volume of epilepsy surgeries performed was maintained even during the second peak, possibly because of the strength of the regional epilepsy network.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…We recorded the number of patients per month who were classified into each of the following three groups: (1) those referred by their GP for their first visit at our hospital (GP-H group), (2) those who visit our hospital on a regular basis (R group), and (3) those referred by our hospital to their GP (H-GP group). When we refer patients to GPs, their epilepsy information is shared between the hospital epilepsy specialists and the regional epilepsy network of GPs using the Epi Passport booklet (13).…”

Section: Primary Outcome Measurementmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…We classified epilepsy type according to the International League Against Epilepsy (ILAE) 2017 (14) criteria as (1) generalized epilepsy, (2) focal epilepsy, (3) focal and generalized combined epilepsy, and (4) self-limited focal epilepsy. We classified seizure outcome into five levels using a modified version of the ILAE classification system: level 1 (seizure free); level 2 (1-3 seizure days/year); level 3 (4 seizure days/year to 50% reduction); level 4 (<50% reduction in seizures); and level 5 (uncountable due to <1 year of follow up) (13,15). We recorded the ILAE classification for the most recent outcome at the time when they visited our clinic.…”

Section: Type Of Epilepsy Seizure Outcome and Volume Of Epilepsy Surmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Change in Patient Flow in the Epilepsy Care Network Due to Novel Coronavirus Infection: An Opportunity to Strengthen Local Interdisciplinary Epilepsy Care With General Physicians

2020

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Introduction: Novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is spreading worldwide. We hypothesized that patient flow in epilepsy care would change as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The purpose of this study was to compare the number of patients who visited our epilepsy center before and during the first peak of the pandemic. Methods: We recorded the number of patients with epilepsy referred from general physicians (GPs) to our hospital (GP–H group), the number of patients who visited our hospital on a regular basis (R group), and the number of patients referred from our hospital to GPs (H–GP group) between July 2019 and June 2020. Results: A total of 1,839 epilepsy patients made 4,197 visits to our hospital: 979 males and 860 females (age range, 0–94 years; mean age, 37.6 years; median age, 34 years). There were 433 patients in the GP–H group (247 before the pandemic, 186 during the first peak of the pandemic; p = 0.008). In the R group, 1,406 patients made 3,764 visits (1,992 visits before the pandemic, 1,772 during the first peak of the pandemic). In the H–GP group, 135 patients were referred to GPs (47 patients before the pandemic, 88 patients during the first peak of the pandemic; p = 0.023). Conclusion: Patient flow in the epilepsy care network changed as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. These changes might present an opportunity to strengthen local interdisciplinary epilepsy care.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 93%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Primary Outcome Measurementmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Type Of Epilepsy Seizure Outcome and Volume Of Epilepsy Surmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Change in Patient Flow in the Epilepsy Care Network Due to Novel Coronavirus Infection: An Opportunity to Strengthen Local Interdisciplinary Epilepsy Care With General Physicians

2020

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“…We have already described a retrospective study showing the importance of local interdisciplinary care for PWE ( 12 ). We have also shown that SARS-CoV-2 did not influence the volume of epilepsy surgeries in our facility ( 13 ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Patients With Epilepsy Who Underwent Epilepsy Surgery During the COVID-19 Pandemic Showed Less Depressive Tendencies

et al. 2021

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Introduction: Our hypothesis in this study was that differences might exist between patients with epilepsy (PWE) who underwent epilepsy surgery before and within the period of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. The purpose of this study was to compare results of the Zung Self-Rating Depression Scale (SDS) between PWE who underwent epilepsy surgery before and during the pandemic period.Methods: Participants were PWE who underwent open cranial epilepsy surgery between February 2019 and February 2021 in our hospital. Patients who underwent surgery in the first half of this period, between February 2019 and January 2020, were defined as the pre-pandemic period group (pre-Group) and those treated in the second half, between February 2020 and February 2021, were categorized as the pandemic period group (within-Group). All patients completed the SDS before surgery, and scores were compared between groups.Results: SDS score was significantly higher in the pre-Group than in the within-Group (p = 0.037). Other factors, including age (p = 0.51), sex (p = 0.558), epilepsy duration from onset to SDS score evaluation (p = 0.190), seizure frequency (p = 0.794), number of anti-seizure medications (p = 0.787), and intelligence quotient (p = 0.871) did not differ significantly between groups.Conclusion: SDS score was higher in the pre-pandemic group than in the within-pandemic group, which may indicate that PWE with less-positive outlooks may be less likely to seek medical attention during stressful periods.

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Classifying epilepsy pragmatically: Past, present, and future

Shlobin

Singh

Newton

et al. 2021

Journal of the Neurological Sciences

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Inclusion of general physicians in the multidisciplinary treatment team for epilepsy may lead to an economic benefit

Cited by 7 publications

References 15 publications

Change in Patient Flow in the Epilepsy Care Network Due to Novel Coronavirus Infection: An Opportunity to Strengthen Local Interdisciplinary Epilepsy Care With General Physicians

Change in Patient Flow in the Epilepsy Care Network Due to Novel Coronavirus Infection: An Opportunity to Strengthen Local Interdisciplinary Epilepsy Care With General Physicians

Patients With Epilepsy Who Underwent Epilepsy Surgery During the COVID-19 Pandemic Showed Less Depressive Tendencies

Classifying epilepsy pragmatically: Past, present, and future

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