Abdii The Last
Abdii The Last
Abdii The Last
JANAUARY 2021
NEKEMTE, ETHIOPIA
a
This is to certify that this research paper prepared by Abdi Edosa, entitled “ASSESSMENT OF
HEALTH-RELATED QUALITY OF LIFE AND ITS DETERMINANT AMONG
AMBULATORY EPILEPTIC ADULTS PATIENTS AT WOLLEGA UNIVERSITY
REFERRAL HOSPITAL, WEST ETHIOPIA” submitted in partial fulfillment of the
requirements for the bachelor degree of pharmacy complies with the regulations of the university
and meets the accepted standards with respect to originality and quality.
_____________________________________________
i
Abstract
Background: Epilepsy is a chronic brain disorder characterized by repetitive unprovoked
seizures more than two times 24 hours apart in a year. It can be associated with profound
physical, psychological and social consequences and its impact on a person’s quality of life can
be greater than that of many other chronic diseases because of different factors.
Objective: To assess health-related quality of life and its determinant among ambulatory
epileptic adult patients at Wollega University Referral Hospital
Methods and patients: A hospital based cross – sectional study was conducted from April 20 to
June 27, 2019, through patient interview and patient chart review to assess health-related quality
of life andits determinant among ambulatory epileptic adult patients at Wollega University
Referral Hospital. Among 121 samples of epileptic adult patients from outpatient department of
Wollega University Referral Hospital. Structured standard interview questionnaires were
prepared to collect data and data was processed and analyzed by using a statistical package for
social science (SPSS). Pre-testing of the questionnaire was done on 5% of total sample size.
Verbal consent from participants was taken before the interview.
Result: A total of 121 epileptic patients were included in this cross-sectional study. Out of
which, 24.4% of the study participants had poor quality of life. Respondents being widowed and
divorced was 44 times (AOR=43.89, P value= 0.002) and 11 times (AOR=11.09, P value
=0.024) more likely to have poor physical quality of life as compared to respondents who have
married. Similarly, co morbidity was significantly associated with poor physical QOL
(AOR=13.34, P value= 0.001). In regards to psychological health co morbidity was the factors
that associated with poor psychological QOL (AOR=9.48, P value=0.001). In the case of social
health being ages above 55 years, respondents who were single, divorced, who took poly
pharmacy and whose seizure were not controlled years (AOR=14.94, P value= 0.018),
(AOR=14.32, P value=0.01), (AOR=12.95, P value=0.028), (AOR=10.17, P value=0.002) and
(AOR=5.35, P value=0.037) respectively were strongly associated with poor social QOL as
compared to with their counterparts. And also poor QOL of environmental health was
significantly associated with being rural in residency (AOR=15.20, P value=0.001), being
divorced (AOR=49.47, P value=0.004) and having uncontrolled seizure (AOR=3.94, P
value=0.029) in relative to their counterpart.
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Conclusion: Minority of study participants had poor overall quality of life in this study. The
various socio-demographic and clinical characteristics affect the QOL. Ages above 55 years,
being female, divorce and widowed in marital status, co morbidity, poly pharmacy and
uncontrolled seizure were significantly associated with poor quality of life of each domain.
Recommendation: Health professional staffs of WURH should manage patients with epilepsy to
become seizure free, educating epileptic patients about their social life and treating of co-morbid
disorders properly may help to improve quality of life in patients with epilepsy.
Keywords: Adults, Epilepsy, Quality of life, Seizure, Wollega University Referral Hospital
iii
Acknowledgement
Praise and thanks be to the Almighty God who made me possible to prepare this research paper. I
would like to acknowledge Wollega University College of Health science Department of
pharmacy for giving me chance for conducting this study. My heart full gratitude goes to my
advisor Mr. Daniel. M (B. Pharm) for his constructive and supportive comments on the
preparation of this research paper and various aspects from the very beginning of topic selection.
Finally, my acknowledgement also goes to all staffs of Wollega University Referral Hospital and
study participants for their co-operation and provides me necessary information.
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Table of Contents page
Abstract............................................................................................................................................ii
Acknowledgement..........................................................................................................................iv
1. Introduction.................................................................................................................................1
2. Literature review.........................................................................................................................4
4. Methodology...............................................................................................................................9
4.4 Population..............................................................................................................................9
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4.5.2 Exclusion criteria........................................................................................................10
5. Results........................................................................................................................................14
6. Discussion..................................................................................................................................23
8. Conclusion................................................................................................................................27
9. Recommendation.......................................................................................................................28
10. References................................................................................................................................29
11. Annexes...................................................................................................................................34
vi
List of tables
vii
List of figures
Figure 1. The conceptual framework encompasses factor affecting QOL among PLWE..............7
Figure 2. Frequency of co morbid conditions (psychiatric and non-psychiatric) and non co
morbid condition among epileptic patients attending at WURH, 2021.........................................17
viii
Abbreviations & acronomys
AEDs: Antiepileptic drugs
ix
1. Introduction
1.1 Background information
Epilepsy is a disorder of the brain characterized by two or more unprovoked seizures occurring
more than 24 hours apart or one unprovoked seizure when the risk for another is known to be
high (>60%) [1]. It is a medical condition resulting in repeated often times debilitating seizures
that can lead to injury and death. Despite the advances in the various treatment modalities around
one-third of person with epilepsy (PWE) continue to have difficult to control seizures [2].
Epilepsy is not a single disease, but rather an expression of many different brain disorders, and as
a consequence investigations and treatment must be individualized [3]. It is one of the most
common and widespread neurological disorders which affect over 65 million people [4].
The International League against Epilepsy (ILAE) classifies seizures according to either the
clinical presentation or the underlying pathology. There are three major types of seizure
including focal seizures, generalized seizures and unclassified seizures [5].
The cause of epilepsy is completely unknown. However, some evidences suggested that heredity
play an important role in many causes of epilepsy, but it can also result from brain injuries
caused by blows to the head, stroke, infections, high fever or tumors [6]. Many people in Africa
also believe that epilepsy is contagious and that can be spread by urine, saliva, flatus, or feces
excreted at all times or during a convulsion because of these unwilling to help or to touch the
person who has fallen during a seizure [1, 4].
Epilepsy can affect the Quality of Life (QOL) due to the need for regular medications, their side
effects and also due to prejudices and social conventions that still surround it [7].
Epilepsy has a great influence on the three levels of quality of life (physical, mental and social
health), which is exercised directly - by affecting the physical and mental health, and indirectly -
by introducing limitations and decreasing the opportunities for taking part in quality of life
improving activities. The social functioning has a significant role in obtaining a good QOL[8, 9].
1
World Health Organization (WHO) defined quality of life as individuals’' perceptions of their
position in life in the context of the culture and value systems in which they live and in relation
to their goals, expectations, standards and concerns’’ [10].
Most large-scale studies in resource-poor countries report prevalence rates for active epilepsy of
between 6 and 10 per 1000; many of these studies also report higher rates in rural areas. Lifetime
prevalence rates are much higher than rates for active epilepsy; this is even the case in resource
poor countries, where there is a huge treatment gap and, indeed, anti-epileptic drugs (AEDs) may
not be available [12].
Epilepsy accounts for 0.6%, of the global burden of disease, a time-based measure that combines
years of life lost due to premature mortality and time lived in less than full health. Epilepsy has
significant economic implications in terms of health care needs, premature death and lost work
productivity. An Indian study conducted in 1998 calculated that the cost per patient of epilepsy
treatment was as high as 88.2% of the country’s per capita Gross National Product (GNP), and
epilepsy-related costs, which included medical costs, travel, and lost work time, exceeded $2.6
billion/year [13].
As some researcher report that, quality of life can be affected in that, people with epilepsy report
significant, negative psychosocial consequences of the disorder including decreased social and
leisure opportunities, low self esteem and feeling of shame and guilt compared with individuals
without epilepsy [14].
2
There is a paucity data on health related quality of life of epilepsy in Ethiopia. Hence, this study
would attempt to assess health related quality of life by taking psychiatric co-morbidity and self
management practice as a factor. In addition, seizure control would also be assessed as it could
determine the quality of life.
This research is useful for identifying factors affecting quality of life among epileptic adult
patients. In addition to this, it is useful to know status of epilepsy self management practice and
believe with regards to individual epileptic patients.
There are various strategies suggested for improving health related quality of life of patient’s.
Therefore, strategies for improvement of poor quality of life depends on underling factors
affecting quality of life and so the research is aimed to identify the common factors associated
with poor quality of life and to give recommendation for health professional and concerned
bodies, those giving care for patients in Ethiopia, specifically in Wollega University Referral
Hospital.
Finally yet importantly, since there is no research done on this topic in the area, it can be used as
initial point or reference for who those are interested to perform similar studies on this area. The
findings could be used to uncover the practices rendered at the hospital, improve the service.
3
2. Literature review
2.1 Prevalence and Burden of Epilepsy
Epilepsy is an important public health problem representing 0.6% of the global burden of disease
that particularly impacts the people living in the lowest income countries where epilepsy
incidence may be 10 fold more than in the developed world [15].
One epidemiological survey conducted in Brazil revealed that the life time prevalence of
epilepsy was 9.2/1,000 people and the estimated prevalence of active epilepsy was 5.4/1,000
people [16]. Incidence as well as prevalence of epilepsy is generally lower in developed regions
in comparison to developing region [17].
A cross-sectional study from rural southern India done on a total of 117 persons with epilepsy
were on record in the 20 villages studied with a prevalence of 5.1 per 1000 population[18].
However, prevalence rates have been estimated to vary from 49 to 215 per 100,000 people
among regions of Africa [19]. In a cross-sectional study using a survey questionnaire of rural and
urban dwelling population in Kampala, Uganda and surrounding countryside, identified an
overall epilepsy prevalence of 13.3% [20]. Similarly a cross-sectional survey of individuals
residing in the middle part of Ghana show that, 10.1 per 1000 individuals residing in West
African region had active convulsive epilepsy [21].
4
show that people living with epilepsy having depression and anxiety were 17.4% and 22.8%
respectively. [26]
A hospital based study from southern India showed that psychiatric co morbid conditions was
highly prevalence and epileptic patients with co morbidity disorders were associated with poor
QOL [27].
A case control study conducted by using HADs in Iran showed that 9.5% epilepsy patients had
depression and 24.5% had anxiety [28]. A cross sectional study conducted in Nigeria showed
that the prevalence of anxiety and depressive symptoms were 20.2% and 15.4% respectively
among PWE [29].
A cross sectional study conducted in Ethiopia using HADS instrument showed that the
prevalence of anxiety symptoms among epileptic patient was found to be 33.5 % whereas
prevalence of depression was 32.8 % and monthly family income, frequency of seizure and side
effects of AEDs were significantly associated with both depression and anxiety. However, being
divorced/ widowed was significantly associated with anxiety whereas perceived stigma, types of
AEDs, and unable to read and write were associated with depression [30].
Institutional Based Cross- Sectional Study conducted in Nekemte showed that the prevalence of
depression among people with epilepsy was 43% and the prevalence of anxiety was 47.8 % [31].
5
A cross-sectional study was conducted among epileptic patients on follow-up at Amanuel
Specialized Mental Hospital From a total of 397 patients 61% were males. About 70% patients
were adherent to their treatment and only 38.6% of the patients were seizure free for at least two
years [40].
A cross sectional study conducted in India showed that the mean total QOL was 51.49 by the
using WHOQOL-BREF [43]. In similar way the study conducted in the same country by the
different investigator show that the mean QOL was 63.05[44]. According to some study Seizure
frequency was described as one of the most relevant determinants of poor QOL [45].
A few studies have assessed co morbid psychiatric disorders among epileptic patients. It has
been shown that co morbidity moods, especially depression and anxiety, can have adverse effects
on QOL in patients with epilepsy. [46]
Study conducted in Bulgaria state that different socio demographic factor could affect the quality
of life of epileptic patients [47].
An institution based cross -sectional study conducted at Amanuel Mental Specialized Hospital
show that, lower educational level and psychiatric co-morbidity were significantly associated
with poor quality of life when compared with their counterpart [48]. An institutional based cross-
sectional study conducted in South Ethiopia at Dilla University on total 317 respondents show
that (53.1%) of study participants had low quality of life in area of physical domain and 46.8%
had role impairment of physical problem while 45.6% and 36.7% of the studied participants
6
experienced low quality of life due to role impairment of emotional problem and pain
experience, respectively [49].
Conceptual Framework
QOL among
epileptic
patients
• Patient demography
• Disease condition
- Seizure frequency - Age
- Seizure freedom - Marital status
- Duration of illness - Family income
Figure 1. The conceptual framework encompasses factor affecting QOL among PLWE.
7
3. Objectives of the study
3.1 General Objective
To assess health related quality of life and its determinant among ambulatory epileptic adult
patients at WURH.
• Physical health
• Psychological health
• To determine the associated factors that affect quality of life of adults living with
epilepsy on follow up at Wollega University Referral Hospital.
8
4. Methodology
4.1 Study area
The study was conducted at Wollega University Referral Hospital which is found in Nekemte
town, Oromia regional State. Nekemte town located at 328 km away from the capital city of
Ethiopia, Addis Ababa with estimated population of 76,774 inhabitants. There are different
wards and departments in WURH; these include medical ward, surgical ward, obstetrics and
gynecology ward, pediatric ward, medical emergency room, outpatient department (OPD),
psychiatry clinic, ART clinics, pharmacy and laboratory.
The study was carried out from March 05 /2020 – June 27/ 2020 G.C.
4.4 Population
9
4.5.2 Exclusion criteria
• Those patients who were mentally unstable or critically ill.
n = z (α/2)2 p q
d2
q=1-p=0.5
d=0.05
(0.05)2
Since the number of population is less than 10,000, it should be adjusted. Therefore the corrected
sample size was;
10
A total of 127 study populations were involved.
Consecutive sampling technique was used to select the study subjects.Wollega University
Referral Hospital psychiatric unit has one clinics visit every work days for patients with epilepsy
and total number of epileptic patients who follow up at the clinic were 175. Being it is small in
number of study population continuously all eligible patient visiting the clinic during the data
collection period were interviewed using structured data collection questionnaire until desired
sample size was achieved.
Therefore, categorization was done using the mean scores of WHOQOL-BREF. Subjects were
categorized as having GOOD QOL in WHOQOL-BREF, those scores greater than or equal to
mean (M). While subjects with values less than the mean (M), were categorized as having POOR
QOL [49].
11
4.9. Study variables
• Sex
• Educational status
• Income
Good quality of life: Subjects those scores greater than or equal to mean in WHOQOL-BREF
were categorized as having GOOD QOL [49].
Health Related Quality of Life: It is often referred to as the impact of disease and treatment on
QOL
Poor quality of life: Subjects those scores less than the mean in WHOQOL-BREF, were
categorized as having POOR QOL [49].
Quality of Life: The World Health Organization defines QOL as an individual’s “perception of
their position in life in the context of the culture and value system in which they live and in
relation to their goals, expectations, standards and concerns” [4].
12
Uncontrolled seizure: If the patient is not seizure free for at least two year provided that the
patient is on AEDs [5].
13
5. Results
5.1. Socio-Demographic Characteristics of the Respondents
Of the total 127 study participants enrolled, 121 were interviewed with 95.3 response rate. From
total 127 enrolled 6 of them were not participate in the study. Because from 6 of them 2
participants were severely mental ill to give their consent and 4 participants were unwilling to
give their consent during data collection. From 121 interviewed participants, 67(55.4%) were
males. Seventy two(59.5%) of the respondents lie in the age group between 18-35 years whereas
the median age were 32 years ranging from 18-69 years. Majority of them were married 58
(47.9%), Orthodox 51(42.1%), Oromo ethnicity109 (90.1%), Farmer 39 (32.2%), urban
residence 62 (51.2%), primary (1-8) education 57 (47.1%)) and earn <500 ETB monthly 66
(54.5%) (Table1).
Farmer 39 32.2
Student 34 28.1
Businessman/women 13 10.7
Daily labor 10 8.3
Others 12 9.9
Residence Urban 62 51.2
Rural 59 48.8
Educational status Not educated 23 19.0
14
Primary 57 47.1
Secondary 14 11.6
College and University(tertiary) 27 22.3
Monthly income <500 66 54.5
500-1500 23 19.0
(ETB)
1500-2500 9 7.4
>2500 23 19.0
ETB-Ethiopian birr
15
Poly Pharmacy Yes 16 13.2
No 105 86.8
Types of Seizures Simple partial 1 0.8
seizure
Absence seizure 2 1.7
GTCS 54 44.6
Unclassified 64 52.9
Seizure free Yes 95 78.5
No 26 21.5
Seizure burden Controlled 35 28.9
Uncontrolled 86 71.1
Regarding co-morbidity, out of the total respondents 27.3% had co morbid condition. Out of
them 9.1% and 18.2 % had psychiatric co morbid and non-psychiatric co morbid conditions
respectively (figure 1).
80.00%
70.00%
60.00%
50.00%
non psychiatric
40.00%
Psychiatric
30.00%
20.00%
10.00%
0.00%
Comorbidity non comorbidity
16
5.3. WHOQOL-BREF (0-100) Characteristics of Respondents
The mean (SD) total score on the WHOQOL-BREF scale in this study was 56.4±
12.4. Out of the total 121 study participants, 24.4% had poor quality of life. The WHOQOL
BREF covers four different domains of quality of life, physical, psychological, social and
environmental. In this study the individual those score poor QOL in each domain were as follow.
Physical domain (24%), psychological domain (14%), social domain (24.8%) and environmental
domain (34.7%) (Table3).
Table 3. Distribution of four domains of WHO QOL- BREF among epileptic patients at WURH,
Nekemte Ethiopia, 2021 (n= 121).
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confounding effects. The factors that fulfill the minimum requirement were age, sex, marital
status, place of residency, monthly income, co morbid condition, poly pharmacy and seizure
burdens for all domains (Table 4).
Table 4. Bivariate analysis of variables associated with quality of life among epileptic patients at
WURH, Nekemte Ethiopia, 2021 (n= 121).
Variable p. value < Exp(B) 95% C.I.for EXP(B)
Lower Upper
0.25
Binary logistic regression for domain I
18
>2500 0.849 0.723 0.026 20.178
Co morbidity 0.351 2.395 0.382 15.035
Poly pharmacy 0.158 0.141 0.009 2.141
Seizure burden uncontrolled 0.052 6.040 0.983 37.129
Binary logistic regression for domain IV
The results of backward stepwise multivariate analysis showed that quality of life of each
domain was significantly associated as follows: quality of life of physical health significantly
associated with marital status and co morbidity. For psychological health, poor QOL was
significantly associated with co morbid condition. Similarly, quality of life social and
environmental health were significantly associated with (age, marital status, poly pharmacy&
seizure burden) and (marital status, place of residence & seizure burden) respectively (Table5).
Physical health
It was found that marital status was significantly associated with poor QOL of physicalhealth.
Being widowed was 44 times (AOR=43.89,95%CI: 3.815-505.019, P value= 0.002) and
respondents who their marital was divorced were 11 times (AOR=11.09, 95%CI: 1.379- 89.308,
P value =0.024) more likely to have poor quality of life as compared to respondents who have
married. But being single was not significantly associated with poor QOL of physical health.
Co morbidity was another factor associated with quality of life of physical health. Those who
had co morbidity were thirteen times more likely to have poor quality of life as compared to
patients with no co morbidity (AOR=13.34, 95%CI: 4.337-41.023, P value= 0.001).
19
Psychological health
In regards toPsychological health co morbidity was the factors that associated with poor QOL.
The respondents who had co morbidity were 9 times (AOR=9.48, 95%CI: 3.010- 29.894, P
value=0.001) more likely to have poor quality of life as compared to respondents who haven’t co
morbidity. Although, another factors like age, Sex, Marital status, Place of residence, Level of
education, Monthly income, Poly pharmacy and Seizure burden were entered into logistic
regression multivariate, they were not significantly associated with poor QOL of psychological
health because they not fulfill the criteria to be significant with their P value above 0.05.
Social health
It was found that age, marital status, poly pharmacy and seizure burden were significantly
associated with poor quality of life of social health. Those whose ages were above 55 years were
fifteen times more likely to have poor QOL as compared to respondents whose ages lies in the
range of 18-35 years (AOR=14.94, 95%CI: 1.605-138.994,P value= 0.018). The respondents
whose their ages lies between 36-55 were not significantly associated with QOL of social health
(P value= 0.143). Marital status was the other factors that associated with poor QOL. Being
single and divorced were 14 and 13 times (AOR=14.32, 95%CI: 1.885- 108.814, P value=0.01)
and (AOR=12.95, 95%CI: 1.315- 127.712, P value=0.028) more likely to have poor quality of
life as compared to respondents who married respectively. But being widowed were not
significantly associated with poor QOL of social health (P value=0.312).
Similarly, poly pharmacy and seizure burden were the factors those significantly associated with
poor QOL of social health. A clients who takes five and more than five medication were 10 times
more likely to have poor QOL as compared to who takes less than five medication (AOR=10.17,
95%CI: 2.319- 44.569, P value=0.002). Concerning to seizure burden, respondents who’s their
seizure were uncontrolled i.e. they are not seizure free for more than 2 years despite taking AED
were five times more likely to have poor QOL as compared to who were seizure free for more
than two years(AOR=5.35, 95%CI: 1.105- 25.950, P value=0.037).
But sex of respondents, monthly income, level of education and co morbidityhad no statistically
significant association with QOL of social health on multivariate logistic regression.
20
Environmental health
In environmental health,it was found that marital status, place of residency and seizure burden
were significantly associated with poor QOL. Being divorced were 49 times (AOR=49.47,
95%CI: 3.390-721.888, P value=0.004), more likely to have poor quality of life of environmental
health as compared to respondents who were married. But being single and widowed was not
significantly associated with poor QOL of environmental health as their P value 0.081 and 0.532
respectively. In regards to residency, being rural was 15 times more likely to have poor QOL of
environmental health as compared to being urban (AOR=15.20, 95%CI: 4.951- 46.661, P
value=0.001). And also, respondents who’s their seizure were uncontrolled were four times more
likely to have poor QOL as compared to respondents who’s their seizure were controlled i.e.
those who were free from seizure for more than two years (AOR=3.94, 95%CI: 1.147- 13.492, P
value=0.029).
On the other hand, sex and age of respondents, monthly income, level of education and co
morbidityhad no statistically significant association with QOL of environmental health on
multivariate logistic regression.
21
Table 5. Backward Multivariate logistic regression analysis of variables associated with quality
of life among epileptic patients at WURH, Nekemte Ethiopia, 2021 (n= 121).
Variable p. value < Exp(B) 95% C.I.for EXP(B)
Lower Upper
0.05
Backward Multivariate logistic regression of Domain I
Marital status Single 0.940 1.046 0.319 3.432
Divorced 0.024 11.098 1.379 89.308
Widowed 0.002 43.895 3.815 505.019
Co morbidity 0.001 13.339 4.337 41.023
Backward Multivariate logistic regression of Domain II
6. Discussion
The aim of this study was to assess health-related quality of life andits associated factors among
ambulatory epileptic adult patients at Wollega University Referral Hospital, Nekemte Ethiopia.
Overall, about 24.4% of the respondents have found to be poor quality of life. Effect of epilepsy
on the QoL of the patients is enormous. Both socio-demographic and clinical factors were
22
associated with poor QOL of each corresponding domains. Among the goal of therapy for
patients with epilepsy; one is improving QOL, therefore, the Ethiopian ministry of health, oromia
regional health bureau, East Wollega Health Bureau as well as health care providers in WURH
should strive to improve QOL of PLWE.
The mean total QOL scores in this study were 56.4±12.4 which was higher than other similar
study conducted in Tamil Nadu (51.49) [43]. The score was lower than the study done in India
(63.05) [44]. The possible reasons for the differences might be due to study conducted in India;
the percentage of co morbidity (13%) was less relative to this study (27%) which decreases their
mean QOL score as compared to less percentage of co morbid condition. But the score was
almost similar with the study conducted in Ethiopia (56.36) [48].
The pattern of domain scores in this study showed a higher mean score in the psychological
domain followed by the physical domain. The least score was seen in the social domain. It is
congruent with the study done in the India which scores higher in psychological domain [44].
Similar studies conducted on epileptic subjects using WHO-QOL BREF questionnaire differed
from this study finding by showing higher scores in social domain [43, 48]
In this study various socio-demographic and clinical characteristics were compared for the QOL
of domain scores. It was found that people who had uncontrolled seizure, poly pharmacy, co
morbidity and ages above 55 years were significantly associated with poor QOL.
The study showed that there are significant associations between poor physical health’s related
QOL and marital status. Respondents who were being divorced and widowed had a higher
proportion of poor physical quality of life compared with being married. Previous research has
also revealed that poor QOL was associated with, being separated/widowed [18]. However the
study conducted in Bulgaria shows that, there is no significant association between poor QOL
and marital status [47]. The possible reasons for the differences might be; this cross-sectional
study was conducted using WHOQOL-BREF, but that of the Bulgaria was conducted using
Quality of Life Inventory for Epilepsy (QOLIE-89 P>0.05).
In the present study co morbid condition were prominent predictors for poor QOL of physical
health in epilepsy patients. Previous studies have also reported that the presence of co morbidity
may affect the physical health of the patients with epilepsy [25, 28, 29].
23
In regards to psychological quality of life, the study showed significant associations between co
morbidity and psychological quality of life. A hospital based study from southern India showed
that psychiatric co morbid conditions in patients with seizure disorders were associated with poor
QOL in epileptic patients [27]. A few studies have assessed co morbid condition among epileptic
patients. It has been shown that co morbid moods, especially depression and anxiety, can have
adverse effects on psychological QOL in patients with epilepsy [28]. A cross-sectional study
conducted at Amanuel mental specialized Hospital in Ethiopia showed that, epileptic patient with
psychiatric co-morbidity has poor QOL when compared with the patient without co morbidity
[48]. The current study also found similar results with the QOL being poorer among epileptic
patients with co morbidity.
Concerning the social related quality of life, the study revealed that poor social QOL was
associated with socio demographic and clinical factors. Among socio demographic factors that
significantly associated to poor QOL being unmarried and ages above 55 years. This finding was
consistent with many previous studies [18, 29].
In regards to clinical factors seizure burden and poly pharmacy were most likely associated with
poor QOL of social health in this study. Patients whose seizure was not controlled were score
poor QOL related to social health. This finding is congruent with many previous studies [29, 39,
41, 45]. In similar manner epileptic patients who take multiple drugs were significantly
associated with poor QOL of this domain because it might be suggested that, prescription of
multiple drugs can result in multiple adverse side effects and have a negative effect on QOL.
Different literatures [32, 33, 48] also suggested that poly therapy receiving patients had lower
mean QOL score as compared to their counterpart.
In the case of environmental health, the poor QOL was strongly associated with being rural,
unmarried and uncontrolled seizure. There were more separated from their spouse respondents
with low environmental quality of life compared with married respondents. This finding is
similar with the study conducted in India, which state that poor QOL of environmental health
was strongly associated with being separated/unmarried [18]. In terms of seizure burden the
current study shows that respondents whose seizure was not controlled had poor QOL of
environmental health. The previous study also revealed that frequent seizure and uncontrolled
seizure were positively associated with poor QOL [29, 39, 41, 45].
24
7. Limitation of the study
• From the enrolled study participants, some patients were unwillingness to give their
consent.
• Some data of patient’s record were ineligible which affect quality of collected data.
• Some patients might not remember the exact times of their seizure free period.
25
8. Conclusion
This study sought to investigate the quality of physical, psychological social and environmental
health and its associated factors of persons living with epilepsy attending Wollega University
Referral Hospital.
24.4% of the study participants were score poor quality of life in this study. Ages >55 years,
being female, divorce and widowed in marital status, co morbidity, poly pharmacy, and
uncontrolled seizure were significantly associated with poor quality of life.
26
27
9. Recommendation
From the study the following recommendations are suggested:
• East Wollega Health Bureau should work on the improvement of the QOL for PLWE
• Health professional staffs in WURH should manage patients with epilepsy to become
seizure free period and early recognition of co morbid condition like psychiatric and
non-psychiatric in people with epilepsy should be of great concern for health care
providers to achieve a good QOL of epileptic patients.
• Epileptic patients should be counseled to live with his/her spouse since according to this
study being separated from their spouse has negative effect on the QOL.
• Further studies are needed to evaluate the effect of other associated factors that
contribute for poor QOL in epilepsy, and to assess its impact on quality of life.
28
10. References
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report: A practical clinical definition of epilepsy. Epilepsia 55: 475-482.
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Neurother;6:397- 406
4. World Health Organization (WHO) (2005) Atlas: Epilepsy care in the world. Geneva: WHO.
5. Kenya National Guidelines for the Management of Epilepsy 2016, 2nd edit,23-29.
6. Fisher RS, Van Emde B, Blume W, Elger C, Genton P, et al. (2005) Epileptic seizures and
epilepsy: Epilepsia 46: 470-472.
7. Nadkarni J, Jain A, Dwivedi R. (2011), Quality of life in children with epilepsy. Ann Indian
AcadNeurol.;14:279-82
9. Lim YJ, Chan SY, Ko Y. (2009) Stigma and health-related quality of life in Asian adults with
epilepsy. Epilepsy Res; 87:107-119.
10. WHO: (1998) Division Of Mental Health And Prevention Of Substance Abuse: WHOQOL
User Manual.Geneva, Switzerland..
11. Sander JW. (2003); the epidemiology of epilepsy revisited. CurrOpin Neurol 16:165–70.
12. Duncan J, Sander J, Sisodia S, Walker MC. (Lancet 2006) Adult epilepsy.; 87:100- 367
14. Angermeyer, M, C. and Matschinger, H, 2003, “The stigma of mental illness: effects of
labeling on public attitudes towards people with mental disorder”, Acta PsychiatrScand, vol. 108,
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15. Murray, C.J.; Vos, T.; Lozano, R.; Naghavi, M.; Flaxman, A.D.; Michaud, C.; Ezzati, M.;
Shibuya, K.; Salomon, J.A.; Abdalla, S.; et al. 1990–2010: Disability-adjusted life years
(DALYs), Asystematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study.
16.Li LM, Cendes F, Boer H, Miranda CT, Prilipko L, Sander JW et al (2007). Demonstration
project on epilepsy in Brazil Situation assessment. AN 65(1): 5–13.
17. Banerjee PN, Filippi D, Hauser WA (2009). The descriptive epidemiology of epilepsy - a
review. E R 85(1): 31–45.
19. Ngugi, A.K.; Kariuki, S.M.; Bottomley, C.; Kleinschmidt, I.; Sander, J.W.; Newton, C.R.
(2011) Incidence of epilepsy: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Neurology, 77, 1005–
1012.
20. Kaddumukasa, M.; Mugeny, L.; Kaddumukasa, M.N.; Ddumba, E.; Devereaux, M.; Furlan,
A.; Sajatovic, M.; Katabira, E. (2016) Prevalence and incidence of neurological disorders among
adult Ugandans in rural and urban Mukono district; a cross-sectional study.16, 227.
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Bottomley, C.; Newton, C.; Owusu-Agyei, S. (2015) Prevalence and risk factors for Active
Convulsive Epilepsy in Kintampo, Ghana. J. 21, 29.
24.Stefanello S, Marín-Léon L, Fernandes PT, Li LM, Botega NJ (2011) Depression and anxiety
in a community sample with epilepsy in Brazil. ArqNeuropsiquiatr 69: 342-348.
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25.Alsaadi T, El Hammasi K, Shahrour TM, Shakra M, Turkawi L, et al. (2015) Depression and
Anxiety among Patients with Epilepsy and Multiple Sclerosis:. Behav Neurol 19: 63-73.
26.Tellez-Zenteno JF, Patten SB, Jette N, Williams J, Wiebe S (2007) Psychiatric comorbidity in
epilepsy: a population-based analysis. Epilepsia 48: 2336-2344.
27.Jacob R, Tharyan P. (2010) Psychiatry comorbidity and quality of life in people with
epilepsy. German J Psychiatry;13:79–85
28.Asadi-Pooya, AA and Sperling, M R (2011) Depression and anxiety in patients with epilepsy,
with or without other chronic disorders. J 13: 112-116.
31.Takele T, Adamu B (2018) Prevalence and Factors Associated to Depression and Anxiety
among People with Epilepsy on Follow up at Hospitals in West Shewa Zone, Oromia Regional
State, Central Ethiopia: Institutional Based Cross- Sectional Study. J Psychiatry Ment Health
3(1): dx.doi.org/10.16966/2474-7769.124
32.Gabr WM, Shams ME (2015). Adherence to medication among outpatient adolescents with
epilepsy. SPJ 23 (1): 33–40.
33. Jones RM, Butler JA, Thomas VA, Peveler RC, Prevett M (2006). Adherence to treatment in
patients with epilepsy: Associations with seizure control and illness beliefs. SJ 15(7): 504–508.
34.Morgan CL, Buchan S, Kerr MP (2004). The outcome of initiation of antiepileptic drug
monotherapy in primary care: a UK database survey. BJGP 54(507): 781–783.
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36.Hsieh LP, Huang CY (2009). Antiepileptic drug utilization in Taiwan: Analysis of
prescription using National Health Insurance database. ER 84(1): 21–27.
38.Tegegne MT, Mossie TB, Awoke AA, Assaye AM, Gebrie BT, Eshetu DA (2015).
Depression and anxiety disorder among epileptic people at Amanuel Specialized Mental
Hospital, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. BMCP 15(1): 210.
39.Kinyanjui.D, Kathuku.D, and Mburu.J. (2013) Quality of life among patients living with
epilepsy attending the neurology clinic at Kenyatta national hospital, Nairobi, Kenya: Health and
Quality of Life Outcomes,; 11: 98
40. Dawit s, et al., (2017) assessment of factors associated to poor treatment out comes among
epileptic patients taking anti epileptic medications at shambu hospital, North West Ethiopia,
world journal of advance healthcare research. 1:4
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among epileptic patients on follow-up in a resource poor setting. Jimma University, Jimma,
Ethiopia. 6
42. Sultan Qaboos (2012), Quality of Life and its Determinants in People with Epilepsy in
Basrah, Iraq. 12 : 13
43. Ashwin M, Rakesh PS, Pricilla RA, Manjunath K, Jacob KS, Prasad J. (2013) Determinants
of quality of life among people with epilepsy attending a secondary care rural hospital in south
India. J Neurosci Rural Pract.; 4: 62– 66.
44. Rakesh PS, Ramesh R, Rachel P, Chanda R, Satish N, Mohan VR. (2012) Quality of life
among people with epilepsy:. Natl Med J India.;25: 261–264.
45. Bautista RE, Glen ET. (2009) Seizure severity is associated with quality of life independent
of seizure frequency. Epilepsy Behav; 16:325–9.
32
46. Choi-Know S, Ching C, Kim H. (2003) Factors affecting the quality of life in patients with
epilepsy in Seoul, South Korea. Acta Neurol Scand;108:428–34.
47. Ekaterina Viteva, VasilAprilov str.,2013 Impact of Social Factors on the Quality of Life of
Patients with Refractory Epilepsy. 22: 2
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Abate Awoke, Tilahun Belete Mossie, Molla Ayele Yesigat. (2014) Assessment of Quality of
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33
11. Annexes
11.1. Information sheet
Greeting
Hello. My name is Abdi Edosa student at Wollega University, Institute of health Science,
pharmacy department. I collect data of the study on Epilepsy, conducting for partial fulfillment
of bachelor degree in pharmacy. I would very much appreciate your participation in this study.
The information you provide will help me to contribute to improvement of quality health service
for diabetes patients. The interview takes between 20-25 minutes to complete. As part of the
study I would first like to ask you socio demographic and self care behaviors and I would like to
access your medical record to abstract co morbid condition. Whatever information you provide
will be kept strictly confidential, and will not be shared with anyone other than members of our
research team. Participation in this survey is voluntary, and if I should come to any question you
don't want to answer, just let me know and I will go on to the next question; or you can stop the
interview at any time. However, I hope you will participate in the survey since your views are
important. At this time, do you want to ask me anything about the survey? May I begin the
interview now?
For more information and questions here is the contact address of investigator. Abdi Edosa
+251917663984
34
11.2. Consent form
35
11.3. English version of questionnaire
Part I.Socio demographic characteristic of the study participants.
1. Card number______________________
2. Age _______Years
3. Sex a) Male [ ] b) Female [ ]
6. Marital status (a) Married [ ] (b) Single [ ] (c) Divorced [ ] (d) Widowed [ ]
9. Level of education (a) Not educated [ ] (b) Primary(1-8) [ ] (C) Secondary (8-12) [ ]
(d) Colleges and university [ ]
10. How much is your monthly income? (a)<500 [ ] (b) 500-1000 [ ] (c) 1000-
2000 [ ] (d) >2000 [ ]
c) For how long do you have stayed with this disease? 1 year 2 years 3 years above
d) How many time do you experienced with this symptoms /day. Once a day Twice a day
36
Part III. WHOQOL-BREF
Please keep in mind your standards, hopes, pleasures and concerns. I ask that you think about
your life in the last four weeks (The overall quality of life and general health facet).
37
concentrate?
8 How safe do you feel in your 1 2 3 4 5
daily life?
9 How healthy is your physical 1 2 3 4 5
environment?
The following questions ask about how completely you experience or were able to do certain
things in the last two weeks.
38
Very Dissatisfied Neither Satisfied Very
dissatisfie satisfied satisfied
d nor
dissatisfied
16 How satisfied are 1 2 3 4 5
you with your
sleep?
17 How satisfied are 1 2 3 4 5
you with your
ability to perform
your daily living
activities?
18 How satisfied are 1 2 3 4 5
you with your
capacity for work?
19 How satisfied are 1 2 3 4 5
you with yourself?
20 How satisfied are 1 2 3 4 5
you with your
personal
relationships?
21 How satisfied are 1 2 3 4 5
you with your sex
life?
22 How satisfied are 1 2 3 4 5
you with the
support you get
from your friends?
23 How satisfied are 1 2 3 4 5
you with the
conditions of your
living place?
24 How satisfied are 1 2 3 4 5
you with your
39
access to health
services?
25 How satisfied are you 1 2 3 4 5
with your transport?
The following question refers to how often you have felt or experienced certain things in the last
two weeks.
Evaluation Form for Epilepsy Self Management Protocol (Practitioner) Please circle one:
Physician Nurse PractitionerNurse
Yes No
Were the Self management patient packets easy to find?
Usability of educational information
Information was easy to understand
Is the information timely and applicable to epilepsy
Patients
Comments
Yes No
Did you receive information about seizure medications and possible side
effects?
Did you receive information describing the type of seizures you have?
40
Did you receive information about safety issues related to seizures, such
as no driving until seizure free for 6 months?
Was the information you were given by the nurses easy to read and
understand?
2. Please Evaluate the Following by marking an X in the yes or no box below
Yes No
Did you visit the Epilepsy web sites?
Did you find the web site information useful?
Was the educational information you received about your seizure type,
medication, safety issue helpful?
Would you recommend the Epilepsy Self Management Education
Session be given to all patients?
Part V: Assessment of co morbid condition from the patient’s medical records
1. Is there any co morbid condition? A. yes B. no
2. If yes what types of co morbid are there?
A. psychiatric co morbidity B. other condition specify………
3. Is there poly pharmacy? a) Yes b) no
4. Types of seizure ……………
VII. Tools for Assessing Seizure control
1. Are you seizure free? A. Yes B. No
2. If the above question is yes, for how long you are free from seizure ?
A. > 2 years B. 1-2 years C. 6 months to 1 year D. < 06 months
41