Quality of Life and Employment Among Patients with Epilepsy

Year 2024, Volume: 34 Issue: 4, 559 - 565, 31.08.2024

Tülin Gesoğlu Demir , Suzan Havlioğlu

https://doi.org/10.54005/geneltip.1474401

Abstract

Background/Aims: Seizures significantly affect quality of life among patients with epilepsy, while employment significantly contributes to quality of life in general. Thus, in our study, we aimed to determine how the demographic and disease-related characteristics of patients with epilepsy impact quality of life and employment.
Methods: Our sample included 202 patients who had been diagnosed with epilepsy for at least a year and who applied to the Neurology Polyclinic between October 2023 and March 2024. Data about patients’ characteristics were collected using a sociodemographic information form, while quality of life was measured using the Turkish Quality of Life in Epilepsy Inventory-31 (QOLIE-31).
Results: On average, patients were 29.07 ± 10.84 years old and had had epilepsy for 10.5 ± 8.92 years. Patients’ lowest mean score on the QOLIE-31’s subscales was for Total Quality of Life, whereas their highest mean score was for Social Function. The total quality of life score of patients with low education level and low income was found to be significantly lower. Among other results, patients with a seizure frequency of 6 or more per month had significantly lower scores on all subscales except Emotional Well-Being, and patients with refractory epilepsy and/or receiving polytherapy had significantly lower total scores and scores on all subscales.
Conclusions: Our results indicate that employment does not significantly affect quality of life among patients with epilepsy, whereas their clinical features do. Even so, physicians should take all conditions into account to ensure the highest-possible quality of life for patients with epilepsy.

Keywords

Employment, Epilepsy, Seizure, Quality of Life, QOLIE-31

Epilepsili Hastalarda Yaşam Kalitesi ve İstihdam

Abstract

Amaç: Nöbetler epilepsi hastalarında yaşam kalitesini önemli ölçüde etkilerken, istihdam da genel olarak yaşam kalitesine önemli ölçüde katkıda bulunmaktadır. Bu nedenle çalışmamızda epilepsi hastalarının demografik ve hastalıkla ilişkili özelliklerinin yaşam kalitesini ve istihdamını nasıl etkilediğini belirlemeyi amaçladık.
Gereç ve Yöntemler: Örneklemimize Ekim 2023 ile Mart 2024 tarihleri arasında Nöroloji Polikliniği’ne başvuran, en az bir yıldır epilepsi tanısı olan 202 hasta dahil edildi. Hastaların özelliklerine ilişkin veriler sosyodemografik bilgi formu kullanılarak toplandı. Yaşam kalitesi, Epilepside Yaşam Kalitesi Envanteri-31 (QOLIE-31) kullanılarak ölçüldü.
Bulgular: Hastalar ortalama 29,07 ± 10,84 yaşındaydı ve 10,5 ± 8,92 yıldır epilepsi hastasıydı. Hastaların QOLIE-31 alt ölçeklerinden en düşük ortalama puanları Toplam Yaşam Kalitesi, en yüksek ortalama puanları ise Sosyal İşlev alanındaydı. Eğitim düzeyi ve geliri düşük olan hastaların toplam yaşam kalitesi puanının anlamlı derecede düşük olduğu görüldü. Diğer sonuçların yanı sıra, nöbet sıklığı ayda 6 veya daha fazla olan hastaların Duygusal İyilik dışındaki tüm alt ölçeklerde anlamlı derecede düşük puanları vardı ve dirençli epilepsisi olan ve/veya politerapi alan hastaların tüm alt ölçeklerde puanları ve toplam puanları anlamlı derecede düşüktü.
Sonuç: Sonuçlarımız, epilepsi hastalarında çalışmanın yaşam kalitesini anlamlı derecede etkilemediğini ancak klinik özelliklerinin etkilediğini göstermektedir. Yine de hekimlerin epilepsi hastalarında mümkün olan en yüksek yaşam kalitesini sağlamak için tüm koşullarını dikkate alması gerekir.

Keywords

İstihdam, Epilepsi, Nöbet, Yaşam Kalitesi, QOLIE-31

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