Epilepsy video animation: Impact on knowledge and drug adherence in pediatric epilepsy patients and caregivers

Abstract

Objectives: Insufficient of knowledge of epilepsy causes poor drug adherence and seizure control. Leading us to create video animation to educate epilepsy patients and caregivers and evaluate the benefit of this video.

Patients and methods: The 8.52-min video animation was created to provide fundamental information regarding diagnosis, treatment and drug usage for pediatric epilepsy patients. The impact of this video animation was evaluated in a randomized controlled trial (RCT) study during June- September 2016. One month to 15 year-old epilepsy patients and caregivers were recruited and randomized into 2 groups; group A: receiving advice from the clinician and watching the video animation, group B: only receiving advice from the clinician. A ten-item questionnaires and drug adherence (Morisky Medication Adherence Scales (MMAS-8)) were used to evaluate before/after watching video/receiving advice and at 3 month-follow up.

Results: Two hundreds and fourteen epilepsy patients (126 in group A and 88 in group B) were recruited in the study. Before watching video/receiving advice, the mean scores of questionnaires in group A was lower compare with the group B (group A (6.74) and group B (7.38)) but after the video intervention the score of group A significantly rose to 7.42 (immediate after watching video) and to 7.47 scores at 3 month-follow up, while in group B, no significant differences were observed. The comparison of the MMAS-8 in group A showed a significant improvement of drug adherence than the cases in group B.

Conclusion: Video animation as a new method of education for epilepsy patients and caregivers, can improve both their knowledge and the drug adherence.

Keywords: Caregivers; Drug adherence; Epilepsy patients; Knowledge; Pediatric epilepsy; Video animation.