Muhammad Akbar Malik¹*, Faisal Zafar², Arshad Rafiq³, Ahmad Omair Virk⁴ and Zia ur Rehman⁵

¹Chief Paediatric Neurologist for Project Top-Down- Bottom-up, Pakistan
²Assistant Professor Paediatric Neurology, FCPS, Paediatric Neurology and Institute of Child Health Multan, Pakistan
³Consultant Paediatric Neurologist, The Brain Associates Lahore, Pakistan
⁴Paediatric Neurology, Assistant Professor Paediatric Neurology and Institute of Child Health Faisalabad, Pakistan
⁵Paediatrics, Fellow Paediatric Neurology, Paediatric Neurologist for project Top-Down- Bottom-up, Pakistan

*Corresponding Author: Muhammad Akbar Malik, Chief Paediatric Neurologist for Project Top-Down- Bottom-up, Pakistan.

Received: September 11, 2023; Published: March 08, 2024

Abstract

Purpose: The study investigates the five dimensions factors proposed by the World Health Organization (WHO) influencing adherence to antiseizure medicines (ASMs) in children with epilepsy (CWE) in financially disadvantaged areas, focusing on removing these barriers for improved adherence to ASMs.

Methods: A research investigation was carried out from September 2022 to December 2022, involving a total of 280 children diagnosed with epilepsy: age from 6 months to 18 years visiting monthly paediatric neurology clinics at the Rukhsana Shafqat Urban Primary Health Centre (RSUPHC). The objectives of the study were to examine the factors that impact or facilitate adherence to ASMs among children with epilepsy (CWE). The data was obtained using Morisky's Medication Adherence Scale-8 (MMAS-8), as well as the identification of five-dimension factors proposed by the WHO that hinder or facilitate adherence to ASMs. The objective of the study was to offer complimentary consultations and provision of free ASMs to the CWE residing in economically deprived regions.

Results: The research encompassed a group of 280 individuals who were diagnosed with epilepsy: age of 10.82 ± 6.32 years. Out of the whole sample, 226 (80.7%) children exhibited adherence to the treatment regimen as prescribed. Conversely, the remaining 54 (19.3%) of children were categorised as nonadherent. The study demonstrated the noteworthy impact of socioeconomic factors, while also including all the parameters identified by the WHO that affect adherence to antiseizure medication. The availability and supply of complimentary paediatric neurology services were crucial in promoting adherence to ASMs.

Conclusion: Comprehensive treatments addressing both adherence and nonadherence to ASMs are needed to enhance the management of paediatric epilepsy, with a focus on economically disadvantaged areas.

 Keywords: Medication; Adherence; Self-Report; Epilepsy; Seizures; Polypharmacy; Antiepileptic Drugs (AEDS); Stigmatization

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Citation

Citation: Forshing Lui., et al. “Muhammad Akbar Malik. Acta Scientific Neurology 7.4 (2024): 07-20.

Copyright

Copyright: © 2024 Muhammad Akbar Malik1., et al. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.