Epilepsy clinic services, NICE guidelines and patient satisfaction--an audit

Abstract

Objective: To audit the performance of the paediatric epilepsy services in a district general hospital based on NICE guidelines and parent satisfaction.

Design: retrospective audit.

Setting: Paediatric epilepsy clinic in a district general hospital.

Patients: Consecutive children (n=54) with epilepsy attending the paediatric epilepsy clinic over a 4-month period.

Methodology: Data from hospital notes was recorded in standardized study forms, which was subsequently entered into database and analysed independently. A parent/patient satisfaction survey was also conducted over the same period involving the same study population by sending out a postal questionnaire.

Outcome measure: NICE epilepsy audit criteria and patient/carer satisfaction measured using the standards published by Webb et al.

Results: The results show that the service achieved almost all the key targets set out in the NICE guidelines but performed less well in the parent satisfaction survey.

Conclusion: This audit suggests that in addition to NICE guidelines, an evaluation of parent/patient satisfaction should form part of assessment of the quality of paediatric epilepsy service.