Patients’Characteristics and Treatment Outcomes of Epilepsy Clinic Team: Experiences from University Hospital
Sunee Lertsinudom BSc, BCP1,5, Siriwipa Buranadilok BPharm2, Nanthaphan Chainirun BPharm3,5, Somsak Tiamkao MD4,5
Affiliation : 1 Division of Clinical Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand 2 Division of Clinical Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Burapha University, Chonburi, Thailand 3 Srinagarind Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand 4 Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand 5 Integrated Epilepsy research Group, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand
Objective : Epilepsy Clinic, Srinagarind Hospital, has served people by multidisciplinary team since 2005. Studying patients’
characteristics and service outcomes will contribute to more effective care.
Materials and Methods : Analyzed data on epilepsy patients who were treated at the Epilepsy Clinic at Srinagarind Hospital
from January 1, 2011 to December 31, 2011 from outpatient medical records and pharmacy care programs.
Results : of 459, data from 382 epilepsy patients were completely collected. The data were as follows: patients’ ages were 15
to 83 years with mean age of 40.40+0.80 years; most were females (51.05%);most completed at least higher education
(30.89%);most were married (55.76%); most used universal national health insurance (52.90%);average age at the onset of
epilepsy was 30.87+1.04 year; average time for epilepsy treatment was 8.55+0.46 years; average time of treatment at
Epilepsy Clinic was 2.60+1.10 years. 75.40 percent of the patients had a brain scan with computed tomography scan or
magnetic resonance imaging [MRI], and 47.90 percent was found abnormal. 55.80 percent did electroencephalography
[EEG] and positive result accounted for 79.80%. The first three types of epilepsy were generalized tonic-clonic seizures
(59.40%), complex partial seizure (41.40%), and simple partial seizure (10.50%). Most of the patients treated with
antiepileptic drugs, poly-therapy (55.90%) and mono-therapy (40.10%). Mostly used drugs were Phenytoin (44%), followed
by Sodium valproate (40.40%). The average frequency of seizures was 7.50+0.70 times per month and free seizure was
found at 55.50%.
Conclusion : The study provided general information on the patients and treatment including overall treatment outcomes.
Therefore, further studies should be conducted to understand the factors involved in seizure control.
Keywords : Epilepsy, Epilepsy Clinic, Characteristics, Outcomes
