Epileptic patient self-care deficit and efficacy expectation regarding medication consumption at neuroscience center in Al-Najaf city

Abstract

Epilepsy means a chronic neurological disorder which is expressing by frequently unprovoked seizure attacks , this sign is commonly controlling by antiepileptic drugs (AEDs), the frequency of seizure attacks may be controlled by following the optimal self-care practices and avoiding factors that trigger the seizure and increase the frequency of its attacks (Callaghan P. and Waldock H., 2006). Middle East contains about 10% of 50 million patients suffering of epilepsy in the world (WHO, 2011). The main objective of those patients is to control the seizure by using efficient ADEs in right way . Assessing epileptic patient's self-care deficit and efficacy expectation regarding medication consumption in Middle Euphrates Neuroscience center. Quasi- experimental design used to detect the epileptic patient's problem toward medication consumption maintenance, purposive sample from (57) epileptic patients how visit outpatient were selected, the sample divided in to control and experimental group after obtaining their agreement to participate in this study, pretest performed to assess patients self –care deficit and their need for specific information related to medication , while post-test performed to assess the effectiveness of the educational program sessions upon patients information related to medication in order to control reduce epileptic attacks which may enhanced their efficacy and promote patients quality of life after presentation of two educational sessions extended to two days to enhance patients information and improve their practices.Self-care practices deficit presented in the pre-test among the study sample, while highly significant difference recorded upon self –care practices among the experimental group member after the educational sessions Structured educational program should be planned by specialist nurse in the health care center to cover epileptic patients' needs and improve self-care practices. Keywords: Epileptic patient; self-care deficit and efficacy and medication consumption.