Dr Ian Brown

University of Sheffield

Enhancing anti-epileptic drug adherence: a randomised controlled trial follow-up.

Abstract

For most people with epilepsy anti epileptic drug (AED) treatment reduces seizure severity and frequency of their seizures.  However, up to 30-40 percent of AED doses are missed resulting in increased seizure frequency and severity as well as higher rates of hospitalisation and even death.   There are many reasons why people do not take medication. A previous study undertaken by Dr Brown clearly showed that the majority of people with epilepsy are keen to take their AEDs as directed but find it difficult to do so.

The study will assess a novel intervention called an Implementation Intention, which asks people to write down where they will be and what they will be doing when they are going to take their pills.  In the study conducted 2-years ago Dr Brown found that this increased on-schedule pill taking from 55 percent to 79 percent and total pill taking from 79 percent to 93 percent over a period of one-month. 

Other studies show that the effects of this intervention can last for more than a year.  In this study Dr Brown will go back to the people who took part in his last study and check whether the effects of the intervention persist after two years.