Faculty Collaboration Database

Quality of life of patients with epilepsy living in Kingston, Jamaica. Epilepsy Behav 2011 May;21(1):23-6

Date

04/05/2011

Pubmed ID

21458384

DOI

10.1016/j.yebeh.2011.02.019

Scopus ID

2-s2.0-79955620757 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site)   15 Citations

Abstract

Quality of life in epilepsy has not been documented in the English-speaking Caribbean. The aim of this study was to explore the quality of life of persons with epilepsy (PWE) living in Jamaica and determine the impact of socioeconomic factors by examining two socially distinct groups in semiprivate (Epilepsy Centre of Jamaica) and public (Kingston Public Hospital) outpatient clinics. One hundred nine consecutive patients were interviewed. Quality of life was assessed using the Quality of Life in Epilepsy-31 inventory (QOLIE-31). Both groups were matched for gender, epilepsy syndrome, epilepsy duration, and number of antiepileptic drugs. Predictors of quality of life included number of antiepileptic drugs (P=0.039), epilepsy duration (P<0.05), and functional status (P<0.001). Neither seizure frequency nor socioeconomic status predicted QOLIE-31 scores. Mean QOLIE-31 total score (61.57 vs 49.2, P<0.001) and QOLIE-31 subscale scores (with the exception of the Seizure Worry score [53.8 vs 48.2, P=0.08]) were significantly higher than the corresponding t scores. The QOLIE-31 can reliably be used in Jamaica. Our findings suggest Jamaicans living with epilepsy perceive themselves as having a better than expected quality of life.

Author List

Gordon-Perue G, Gayle F, Fraser R, Ali A

Author

Raphael Fraser PhD Assistant Professor in the Medicine department at Medical College of Wisconsin

MESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold

Adult
Cross-Sectional Studies
Epilepsy
Female
Humans
Jamaica
Male
Middle Aged
Predictive Value of Tests
Quality of Life
Reproducibility of Results
Young Adult