Effectiveness of an empowering health education programme for patients with epilepsy

Aims

To evaluate the effectiveness of an educational intervention with empowerment for patients with epilepsy in a Spanish reference hospital for epilepsy.

Methods

A nonrandomized clinical trial was designed in an epilepsy center. An empowerment group intervention program was conducted in which volunteers were recruited. The education contained common topics in health education in epilepsy, which was adapted to the demands of the patients. Patients were empowered to apply their knowledge and skills, using the nurse as a facilitator. Questionnaires were administered before and after the intervention to assess anxiety and depression, quality of life, and satisfaction with epilepsy care in patients with epilepsy.

Results

33 patients completed the sessions and study. Satisfaction with the information improved significantly after the intervention (p < 0.005). The information items with significant improvements were satisfaction with information about epilepsy, treatment, provision of aid and treatment of the impact of epilepsy (p < 0.005) Satisfaction with communication decreased (p < 0.005), being the items with the most changes, the “time to answer the questions” and “consideration with their individual needs”. No significant changes were shown in depression and anxiety, quality of life and satisfaction with the organization.

Conclusions

Empowerment interventions demonstrated benefits to improve satisfaction with information in patients with epilepsy. The educational intervention designed allows sharing knowledge, solving problems and improving skills, empowering the patient in a new concept of education, which the nurse is a facilitator who collaborates with the demands of the patients. More studies are needed to increase the sample and demonstrate benefits in quality of life and anxiety and depression.