Drug Compliance of Pediatric Patients with Epilepsy / 대한소아신경학회지

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: The sole available treatment for the majority of epilepsy patients is antiepileptic drug therapy. Drug compliance is an important factor for adequate treatment. This study is for investigating pediatric epilepsy patients' compliance to antiepileptic drug treatment at Gil hospital, in South Korea. METHODS: From February 1997 to July 2005, retrospective studies were made on 327 patients with epilepsy in Gil hospital of Gachon medical school. The patients who were taking medication prescribed at other hospitals, were admitted to the hospital for over 30 days, had seizures due to meningitis, encephalitis or trauma were excluded. The participants included patients followed for two years or until the seizures were no longer present. RESULTS: Of the total 327 patients, the mean drug compliance was 80.8%; over 80% for 203 patients(62.1%), 80-50% for 97, under 50% for 28(8.6%). Gender, the age of patients, dose frequency, results of the EEG, MRI abnormalities, etiology of epilepsy, and the duration of the first seizure did not significantly influence drug compliance. However, the patients taking tablets or capsules showed higher compliance than those treated with powder medication. In addition, the patients who started to take drugs after the year 2000 had higher compliance than those before 2000. CONCLUSION: The patients taking tablets or capsules and those who started after 2000 had higher compliance. Although most patients had satisfactory drug compliance, 8.6% had poor compliance(under 50% of compliance); this group requires further attention to improve their compliance.