The role of pharmacists in enhancing epilepsy care: a systematic review of community and outpatient interventions.

Background: Approximately 50 million individuals across the globe are impacted by epilepsy, leading to fear, discrimination, psychiatric issues, high costs, and social stigma. Proper diagnosis and treatment could allow up to 70% of those affected to live seizure-free. Community pharmacists have significant potential to actively participate in epilepsy patient care, beyond merely dispensing medications. The objective of this study was to systematically review and assess the roles of pharmacists in epilepsy care, focusing on pharmacist-led interventions and services for patients with epilepsy.

Methods: Following PRISMA 2020 guidelines, the review included cross-sectional, retrospective cohort, and qualitative/quantitative studies on pharmacist-led epilepsy interventions in community and outpatient settings. Searches were conducted in Scopus, PubMed Central, and Science Direct for studies published through the end of 2023. Two evaluators independently reviewed and chose studies, and the data was analysed using Microsoft Excel®. Quality assessment was performed using the MMAT tool.

Results: Five eligible studies were included, covering 457 participants. Studies originated from the USA (n = 3), Netherlands (n = 1), and Palestine (n = 1). They evaluated pharmacist-led interventions in epilepsy, including medication adherence, quality of life, and pharmacist's integration in epilepsy care.

Conclusion: This review underscores the possible contributions of pharmacists in epilepsy care, stressing the importance of pharmacist-led interventions to enhance medication adherence and the quality of life for individuals with epilepsy. Future research should evaluate the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of these services, including disease management and patient education. Increasing awareness among pharmacists and patients about pharmacists' contributions is crucial for improving epilepsy care.