Quality of Life and Associated Factors Among Patients with Epilepsy Attending Outpatient Department of Saint Amanuel Mental Specialized Hospital, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 2019

Abstract

Background Epilepsy is strongly associated with an impaired quality of life. Patients suffering from epilepsy have a poorer quality of life than both the general population and many other chronic disease sufferers. However, attention is not given on the quality of life of people with epilepsy other than focusing on symptom reduction. This increases the frequency of seizures, impacts on the ability to perform and increases health-related costs. The aim of this study was to assess quality of life and associated factors among patients with epilepsy attending the outpatient department of Amanuel Mental Specialized Hospital, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Methods An institution-based cross-sectional study design was conducted between May and June 2019 at Amanuel Mental Specialized Hospital. A systematic random sampling technique was used to get a total number of 447 samples. Data on quality of life was assessed through interviews using the World Health Organization Quality of Life—Brief (WHOQOL-BREF) Version. The collected data were coded, entered into EpiData 3.1, and analyzed by using SPSS version 20. Simple and multiple linear regression analysis models were fitted and the unstandardized β coefficient at 95% confidence interval was employed. The statistical significance was accepted at p -value <0.05. Results The mean score of quality of life was 61.1±11.6 (95%CI: 59.05, 61.23). Perceived stigma (β=−2.13, 95%CI:–2.96, −1.30), frequent seizure (β=−3.16, 95%CI: -4.27, −2.04), AED adherence (β=1.24, 95%CI: 1.10, 1.30), antiepileptic drug side effect (β=−0.32, 95%CI: -0.38, −0.26), anxiety (β-1.91, 95%CI: –2.95, −0.86), depression (β=−3.59, 95%CI: –4.67, −2.52), poor social support (β=−2.51, 95%CI: –3.62, −1.40) and moderate social support (β=−1.60, 95%CI: –2.58, −0.62) were significantly associated factors with quality of life. Conclusion The finding from this study indicated that quality of life of patients with epilepsy were moderate. Perceived stigma, frequent seizure, comorbid depression and anxiety, antiepileptic drug nonadherence, antiepileptic drug side effect and poor social support were the predictors of quality of life.

Level of Acceptance of Illness and Its Association with Quality of Life among Patients with Epilepsy in North Shewa, Ethiopia

“…Additionally, about half of the patients had an overall quality of life score greater or equal to the mean score level, while the remaining half had overall quality of life score below the mean. This is also consistent with studies from Wollo, Jimma, Gondar [ 38 ], and Addis Ababa [ 39 ]. This might be due to socioeconomic and demographic similarity between the study areas.…”

“…But only 9.4% (n = 9) had high acceptance of illness (scored[31][32][33][34][35][36][37][38][39][40]. The mean of overall acceptance of illness among epileptic patients was 21.04 with standard deviation of 7.21, which indicates medium level of acceptance of a disease among epileptic patients in the study area (Table2).…”

Depression among patients with epilepsy attending Imam AL-Sadiq general hospital in Babylon Governorate, Iraq

“…This result is almost similar to the result of a study conducted in AL-Najaf by (Ali et. al., 2020) who reported that intermediate education (18.9%), (25.7%) had primary education and (32.4%) was Illiterate; consistent with other study in Ethiopia by (Mesafint et al, 2020) found that highest percentage (29.4%) of patient with intermediate education. Regarding result of marital status and educational status in this study may be due to the negative attitudes and misconceptions around epilepsy.…”

Quality of life and its associated factors among epileptic patients on treatment follow up in North Shoa administration, Amhara National State, Ethiopia

“…Sample size is determined using a single population mean formula with the assumptions of 61±11.6 mean and standard deviation of the overall quality of life of a study conducted in Ethiopia (16) for use under a CC0 license. This article is a US Government work.…”