Self-management of Epilepsy: A Systematic Review.

BACKGROUND: Although self-management is recommended for persons with epilepsy, its optimal strategies and effects are uncertain. PURPOSE: To evaluate the components and efficacy of self-management interventions in the treatment of epilepsy in community-dwelling persons. DATA SOURCES: English-language searches of MEDLINE, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, PsycINFO, and CINAHL in April 2018; the MEDLINE search was updated in March 2019. STUDY SELECTION: Randomized and nonrandomized comparative studies of self-management interventions for adults with epilepsy. DATA EXTRACTION: An investigator assessed study characteristics; intervention details, including 6 components of self-management; and outcomes, which were verified by a second reviewer. Risk of bias (ROB) was assessed independently by 2 investigators. DATA SYNTHESIS: 13 randomized and 2 nonrandomized studies (2514 patients) evaluated self-management interventions. Interventions were delivered primarily in group settings, used a median of 4 components, and followed 2 general strategies: 1 based on education and the other on psychosocial therapy. Education-based approaches improved self-management behaviors (standardized mean difference, 0.52 [95% CI, 0.0 to 1.04]), and psychosocial therapy-based approaches improved quality of life (mean difference, 6.64 [CI, 2.51 to 10.77]). Overall, self-management interventions did not reduce seizure rates, but 1 educational intervention decreased a composite of seizures, emergency department visits, and hospitalizations. LIMITATION: High ROB in most studies, incomplete intervention descriptions, and studies limited to English-language publications. CONCLUSION: There is limited evidence that self-management strategies modestly improve some patient outcomes that are important to persons with epilepsy. Overall, self-management research in epilepsy is limited by the range of interventions tested, the small number of studies using self-monitoring technology, and uncertainty about components and strategies associated with benefit. PRIMARY FUNDING SOURCE: U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. (PROSPERO: CRD42018098604).

Duke Scholars

Author Matthew William Luedke Hospital Neurology

Author Daniel Blalock Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, Behavioral Medicine & Neur ...

Author Karen M. Goldstein Medicine, General Internal Medicine

Author Andrzej Stanislaw Kosinski Biostatistics & Bioinformatics, Division of Biostatistics

Author Connor David Drake Population Health Sciences

Author Aatif Mairaj Husain Neurology, Epilepsy and Sleep

Author Allison A. Lewinski School of Nursing

Author Jennifer M. Gierisch Population Health Sciences

Author Tung T Tran Neurology, Epilepsy and Sleep

Author Hayden Barry Bosworth Population Health Sciences

Author John Wiley Williams Jr. Medicine, General Internal Medicine