1. Background
According to the International Bureau for Epilepsy and the International League Against Epilepsy, epilepsy is a brain disorder characterized by a lasting propensity to induce epileptic seizures (1). Epileptic seizures are controlled with antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) (2). The purpose of using AEDs is to prevent seizures by maintaining the effective dose of one or more AEDs (2). The clinical uses and side effects of AEDs might differ in children compared to adults (3). Therefore, the dosage and dosing times should be strictly followed in using AEDs. Using a medication according to its prescription involving dosage and dosing times is expressed as medication adherence (4). A slight change in the use of AEDs reduces drug efficacy and increases the toxic effect (5, 6). For this reason, the rational use of AEDs is required to control epileptic seizures. Rational drug use is defined as the process of appropriate prescription and dispensation of drugs for the appropriate patient for the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of diseases (7). Caregivers’ knowledge about the rational use of AEDs and the right attitudes toward rational drug use facilitate managing and coping with the disease in childhood.
Medication noncompliance could be the result of poor self-management (2). Self-management practices, particularly in adult patients with epilepsy, have shown encouraging outcomes; however, there are not enough data on AEDs self-management for children (8-10) that includes parental self-management, the use of AEDs, and attempts to control seizures in children with epilepsy (10). The rational use of AEDs, active participation of children with epilepsy and family members in the decision-making process with health professionals, appropriate seizure management, and effective coping practices show that parents are successful in epilepsy self-management (10-12).
2. Objectives
Although there are numerous studies on the AEDs self-management of parents who have children with epilepsy, there were no studies in which both the rational AEDs use and AEDs self-management of parents were determined. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the attitudes of parents who had children with epilepsy toward rational AEDs use and their AEDs self-management. In addition, this study aimed to support a more effective strategy to encourage AEDs self-management for children by determining the parental attitudes toward rational AEDs use and their self-management in epilepsy treatment.
3. Methods
3.1. Type of Research
This cross-sectional study was conducted on 192 parents with children who had epilepsy.
3.2. Setting/Sample
The power analysis revealed a power of 95% with an effect size of 0.24 at a significance level of 0.05 (2), indicating that a sample size of 179 subjects would be sufficient to detect significant differences in G*Power software (version 3.0). The current study involved 192 volunteering parents who visited a pediatric neurology outpatient department within November 2021 and February 2022.
The inclusion criteria included parents who had children with epilepsy and parents who volunteered to participate in the study. The exclusion criteria included parents with children who had undergone any surgery or followed a ketogenic diet.
3.3. Measurement Tools
The data were collected using a data collection form, the Parental Attitude Scale for Rational Drug Use (PASRDU), and the Turkish Pediatric Epilepsy Medication Self-management Questionnaire (PEMSQ-TR).
Data Collection Form: This form was created by the researcher following a literature review (8-11). The form comprised two parts, including the first 8 items focusing on the demographic characteristics of the children and the second part containing 6 items about the parents.
Parental Attitude Scale for Rational Drug Use (PASRDU): The scale was developed by Çelebi with 40 items in two subdimensions, namely accurate and conscious use (ACU) and effective and safe use (ESU) (13). Items on this 5-point Likert scale are scored as strongly disagree (1), disagree (2), undecided (3), agree (4), and strongly agree (5). The total scale score varies within the range of 40-200. As the score obtained from the scale increases, parents’ positive attitudes toward rational drug use increase. Cronbach’s alpha values were obtained as 0.88 and 0.83 for the original version (13) and this study, respectively.
Pediatric Epilepsy Medication Self-management Questionnaire (PEMSQ): The questionnaire was developed by Modi et al. (6). It consists of four subdimensions, namely information about epilepsy and treatment (IET), adherence to treatment and clinic appointments (ATCA), treatment-related obstacles (TRO), and treatment and social life (TSL), with a total of 27 items. In this study, the 21-item PEMSQ-TR was used (14). Items 1-15 on the scale are scored from totally disagree (1) to totally agree (5). Items 16 - 21 are evaluated from never (1) to always (5). The total scale score varies from 21 to 105. As the scores obtained from the scale increase, drug self-management skills increase. Cronbach’s alpha values were obtained as 0.83, 0.70, and 0.78 for the original version (6), the PEMSQ-TR version (14), and this study, respectively.
3.4. Ethical and Legal Issues
The study protocol was approved by the the University of Health Sciences Gülhane Non-Invasive Research Ethics Committee (decision no.: 2021/246, date: May 6, 2021). Written consent was obtained from the participants who volunteered to participate in this study. The study was carried out following the principles of the Declaration of Helsinki.
3.5. Data Analysis
The data were analyzed by SPSS software (version 24.0; IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, Armonk, NY: IBM Corp., USA). Descriptive statistics were used to evaluate the sociodemographic data. The t-test and analysis of variance (ANOVA) were used to analyze the variation of the scale scores according to demographic characteristics. The t-test was used to analyze demographic variables with two groups, and the ANOVA was used to analyze variables with k (k > 2) groups. However, non-parametric test techniques were used in data analysis since they did not show a normal distribution due to the kurtosis coefficient of the ATCA subdimension, which was not within the range of -3 to +3. The Mann-Whitney U and Kruskal-Wallis tests were used to analyze the scale scores’ variation according to demographic characteristics. Although the Mann-Whitney test was used to analyze demographic variables with two groups, the Kruskal-Wallis test was used to analyze variables with k (k > 2) groups.
4. Results
Of the children with epilepsy, 100 (52.1%) and 123 (64.1%) subjects were aged < 6 and < 5 years, respectively (Table 1). Participants’ mean scores on the PASRDU and PEMSQ-TR were 156.02 (standard deviation [SD] = 9.86) and 81.38 (SD = 7.13), respectively (Table 2).
Table 1.Distribution of Demographic Variables (n = 192)
| Variables | Subcategories | No. (%) |
|---|---|---|
| Caregiver | ||
| Caregiver | Mother | 166 (86.5) |
| Father | 26 (13.5) | |
| Age, y | < 30 | 42 (21.9) |
| 31 - 40 | 110 (57.3) | |
| > 41 | 40 (20.8) | |
| Type of family | Nuclear family | 172 (89.5) |
| Extended family | 12 (6.3) | |
| Single-parent family | 8 (4.2) | |
| Family income, mo | Income < expenses | 55 (28.6) |
| Income = expenses | 110 (57.3) | |
| Income > expenses | 27 (14) | |
| Educational status | Elementary school | 13 (6.8) |
| Middle school | 18 (9.4) | |
| High school | 64 (33.3) | |
| University | 97 (50.5) | |
| Number of children | 1 | 69 (35.9) |
| 2 | 77 (40.2) | |
| > 3 | 46 (23.9) | |
| Child | ||
| Age, y | < 6 | 100 (52.1) |
| 7 - 12 | 67 (34.9) | |
| 13 - 18 | 25 (13) | |
| Child’s age at diagnosis, y | < 5 | 123 (64.1) |
| 6-10 | 55 (50.6) | |
| 11-15 | 14 (7.3) | |
| Child’s age at first seizure, y | < 1 | 64 (33.3) |
| 2 | 62 (32.3) | |
| > 3 | 66 (34.4) | |
| Last seizure | In the last 24 hours | 62 (32.3) |
| In the last 48 hours | 12 (6.3) | |
| In the last week | 20 (10.4) | |
| In the last month | 22 (11.5) | |
| In the last 6 months | 46 (23.9) | |
| In the last year | 13 (6.8) | |
| In more than one year | 17 (8.8) | |
| Seizure frequency | Several times a day | 79 (41.1) |
| Several times a week | 26 (13.6) | |
| Several times a month | 36 (18.8) | |
| Several times a year | 35 (18.2) | |
| In more than one year | 16 (8.3) | |
| Visiting hospital for follow-up and treatment of epilepsy regularly | Yes | 189 (98.4) |
| No | 3 (1.6) | |
| Side effects of AEDs | Yes | 134 (69.8) |
| No | 58 (30.2) | |
| Medication route for AEDs | Oral | 156 (81.2) |
| Nasogastric tube | 12 (6.3) | |
| Gastrostomy tube | 24 (12.5) | |
Abbreviation: AEDs, antiepileptic drugs.
Table 2.Distribution of Scale Scores (n = 192)
| Scale | Possible Range | Mean ± SD | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Min. | Max. | ||
| PASRDU | |||
| Overall score | 125.00 | 188.00 | 156.02 ± 9.86 |
| Subscale scores | |||
| ACU | 106.00 | 145.00 | 133.02 ± 7.74 |
| ESU | 11.00 | 51.00 | 23.00 ± 7.58 |
| PEMSQ-TR | |||
| Overall score | 62.00 | 105.00 | 81.38 ± 7.13 |
| Subscale scores | |||
| IET | 16.00 | 50.00 | 42.40 ± 6.32 |
| ATCA | 17.00 | 25.00 | 24.30 ± 1.60 |
| TRO | 4.00 | 20.00 | 11.36 ± 4.35 |
| TSL | 2.00 | 10.00 | 3.32 ± 1.94 |
Abbreviations: PASRDU, Parental Attitude Scale for Rational Drug Use; ACU, accurate and conscious use; ESU, effective and safe use; PEMSQ-TR, Turkish Pediatric Epilepsy Medication Self-management Questionnaire; IET, information about epilepsy and treatment; ATCA, adherence to treatment and clinic appointments; TRO, treatment-related obstacles; TSL, treatment, and social life; Min, minimum; Max, maximum; SD, standard deviation.
The mean ACU score was higher in parents aged 31 - 40 years than in those younger than 30 years (P < 0.05). The mean ESU score was higher in those whose children had a seizure at the age of > 3 years than in those whose children had a seizure aged < 1 year (P < 0.05) (Table 3). The mean IET score was higher in parents whose children had a seizure frequency of once more than a year (P < 0.05) than in those whose children had a seizure frequency of several times a week (P < 0.05) and in parents whose children did not experience the side effects of AEDs than in those whose children experienced them. The mean ATCA score was higher in parents who were middle school graduates (P < 0.05) than in those who were elementary school graduates (P < 0.05) and in parents who had children aged 0-6 years than in those whose children were in the 13-18 age group. The mean TRO score was higher in parents who had children aged 0-6 years than in those whose children were in the 13-18 age group (P < 0.05), in parents whose children had a seizure aged < 1 year than in those whose children had a seizure aged > 3 years (P < 0.05), in parents whose children had a seizure within the last 48 hours than in those whose children had a seizure once more than a year ago (P < 0.05), and in parents whose children had several seizures in the last 24 hours than in those whose children had a seizure once more than a year ago (P < 0.05). The mean TRO score was higher in parents aged > 41 years than in those aged < 30 years (P < 0.05), in parents with children within the 13-18 age group than in those with children in the 0-6 age group (P < 0.05), and in parents whose children had seizures aged > 3 years than in those whose children had seizures before the age of 1 year (P < 0.05).
Table 3.Comparison of Parental Attitude Scale for Rational Drug Use According to Child and Parent Variables
| Variables | PASTRDU | PEMSQ-TR | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ACU | ESU | Total | IET | ATCA | TRO | TSL | Total | |
| Caregiver Variables | ||||||||
| Caregiver | ||||||||
| Mother | 133.01 ± 7.84 | 23.3 ± 7.45 | 156.31 ± 9.53 | 42.44 ± 6.35 | 24.39 ± 1.45 | 11.14 ± 4.23 | 3.42 ± 2.01 | 81.38 ± 7.07 |
| Father | 133 ± 7.29 | 21.27 ± 8.51 | 154.27 ± 12.05 | 41.65 ± 6.2 | 23.73 ± 2.31 | 12.5 ± 4.98 | 2.85 ± 1.41 | 80.73 ± 7.51 |
| Test | 0.964 a | 0.18 a | 0.237 a | 0.69 a | 0.466 b | 0.235 a | 0.115 a | 0.816 a |
| Age, y | ||||||||
| < 30 | 132.39 ± 7.01 | 22.63 ± 7.1 | 155.02 ± 6.16 | 40.02 ± 5.53 | 24.02 ± 1.88 | 12.54 ± 4.49 | 2.95 ± 1.66 | 79.54 ± 6.2 |
| 31 - 40 | 133.34 ± 7.16 | 23.45 ± 7.77 | 156.78 ± 9.93 | 43.47 ± 5.6 | 24.46 ± 1.41 | 11.22 ± 4.1 | 3.26 ± 1.88 | 82.42 ± 6.99 |
| > 41 | 132.18 ± 9.74 | 22.1 ± 6.95 | 154.28 ± 11.68 | 41.54 ± 8.22 | 24.08 ± 1.81 | 10.72 ± 4.69 | 4.03 ± 2.29 | 80.36 ± 8.22 |
| Test | 0.664 b | 0.501 b | 0.312 b | 0.008 b, c | 0.354 d | 0.137 b | 0.036 b, c | 0.054 b |
| Educational status | ||||||||
| Primary school | 131.15 ± 11.98 | 24.08 ± 10.94 | 155.23 ± 18.64 | 45 ± 4.62 | 23.77 ± 1.88 | 11 ± 5.76 | 4.31 ± 3.04 | 84.08 ± 9.91 |
| Secondary school | 134.89 ± 6.34 | 23.89 ± 5.44 | 158.78 ± 6.54 | 43.5 ± 7.46 | 24.61 ± 1.14 | 11.39 ± 5.03 | 2.94 ± 1.51 | 82.44 ± 7.11 |
| High school | 131.72 ± 8.11 | 22.19 ± 7.35 | 153.91 ± 10.29 | 40.89 ± 7.08 | 23.92 ± 1.87 | 12.03 ± 3.72 | 3.31 ± 1.87 | 80.16 ± 7.35 |
| University | 133.78 ± 6.97 | 23.32 ± 7.63 | 157.1 ± 8.3 | 42.81 ± 5.6 | 24.56 ± 1.38 | 10.97 ± 4.43 | 3.3 ± 1.87 | 81.64 ± 6.48 |
| Test | 0.172 b | 0.558 b | 0.135 b | 0.077 b | 0.01 c, d | 0.499 b | 0.26 b | 0.233 b |
| Child Variables | ||||||||
| Age, y | ||||||||
| < 6 | 132.72 ± 7.52 | 24.07 ± 7.65 | 156.79 ± 8.56 | 41.77 ± 6.3 | 24.56 ± 1.33 | 11.83 ± 4.18 | 2.98 ± 1.61 | 81.15 ± 6.61 |
| 7 - 12 | 132.52 ± 8.56 | 22.58 ± 7.42 | 155.1 ± 11.43 | 42.22 ± 6.2 | 23.82 ± 1.93 | 11.42 ± 4.12 | 3.61 ± 1.98 | 81.07 ± 7.67 |
| 13 - 18 | 135.8 ± 5.86 | 19.84 ± 7.1 | 155.64 ± 10.51 | 45.12 ± 6.21 | 24.52 ± 1.36 | 9.2 ± 5.14 | 4 ± 2.71 | 82.84 ± 7.75 |
| Test | 0.316 b | 0.127 b | 0.544 b | 0.058 b | 0.002 c, d | 0.025 b, c | 0.021 b, c | 0.532 b |
| Child’s age at first seizure, y | ||||||||
| < 1 | 131.48 ± 7.14 | 25.69 ± 6.96 | 157.17 ± 8.89 | 41.23 ± 6.04 | 24.45 ± 1.3 | 12.23 ± 3.91 | 2.94 ± 1.53 | 80.86 ± 6.96 |
| 1 - 2 | 134.45 ± 7.82 | 22.66 ± 7.87 | 157.11 ± 9.4 | 43.45 ± 5.81 | 24.35 ± 1.71 | 11.63 ± 4.32 | 3.21 ± 2.03 | 82.65 ± 7.19 |
| > 3 | 133.25 ± 8.07 | 20.76 ± 7.22 | 154.01 ± 10.96 | 42.43 ± 6.9 | 24.1 ± 1.75 | 10.24 ± 4.61 | 3.82 ± 2.12 | 80.6 ± 7.18 |
| Test | 0.113 b | 0.003 b, c | 0.111 b | 0.143 b | 0.347 d | 0.026 b, c | 0.027 b, c | 0.214 b |
| Last seizure | ||||||||
| In the last 24 hours | 132.5 ± 7.69 | 24.79 ± 7.7 | 157.29 ± 7.91 | 41.45 ± 5.77 | 24.48 ± 1.2 | 12.61 ± 4.21 | 3.5 ± 1.96 | 82.05 ± 6.95 |
| In the last 48 hours | 132 ± 6.07 | 23.8 ± 6.81 | 155.8 ± 7.32 | 41.6 ± 5.72 | 24.4 ± 1.58 | 14 ± 3.59 | 2.7 ± 1.34 | 82.7 ± 6.99 |
| In the last week | 132.72 ± 8.28 | 21.17 ± 6.32 | 153.89 ± 9.9 | 38.67 ± 9 | 24.06 ± 1.47 | 11.28 ± 4.62 | 3.44 ± 2.2 | 77.44 ± 7.79 |
| In the last month | 133.45 ± 7.8 | 22.1 ± 6.68 | 155.55 ± 10.67 | 43.05 ± 4.89 | 24.4 ± 1.39 | 11.75 ± 3.99 | 2.8 ± 1.51 | 82 ± 5.12 |
| In the last 6 months | 133.07 ± 8.84 | 22.15 ± 8.33 | 155.22 ± 11.61 | 43.63 ± 6.11 | 24.13 ± 1.93 | 10.3 ± 3.89 | 3.48 ± 2.04 | 81.54 ± 7.5 |
| In the last year | 135.18 ± 4.33 | 21.73 ± 7.48 | 156.91 ± 7.46 | 41.82 ± 8.1 | 23.82 ± 2.71 | 11.55 ± 5.79 | 2.91 ± 1.64 | 80.09 ± 8.17 |
| In more than one year | 135.41 ± 4.86 | 25 ± 7.92 | 160.41 ± 10.4 | 45.35 ± 4.61 | 24.82 ± 0.53 | 8.47 ± 3.95 | 3.53 ± 2.37 | 82.18 ± 7.43 |
| Test | 0.906 b | 0.401 b | 0.472 b | 0.034 b, c | 0.681 d | 0.003 b, c | 0.681 b | 0.316 b |
| Seizure frequency | ||||||||
| Several times a day | 132.13 ± 7.06 | 24.33 ± 7.24 | 156.46 ± 8.72 | 40.61 ± 6.76 | 24.33 ± 1.47 | 13.06 ± 4.16 | 3.59 ± 2.15 | 81.59 ± 7.99 |
| Several times a week | 136.56 ± 4.8 | 20.67 ± 6.32 | 157.22 ± 5.43 | 40 ± 6.71 | 24.44 ± 1.67 | 10.56 ± 4.1 | 2.67 ± 1.12 | 77.67 ± 7.12 |
| Several times a month | 133.84 ± 6.7 | 22.42 ± 7.14 | 156.26 ± 10.39 | 43.74 ± 4.84 | 24.42 ± 1.54 | 10.71 ± 4.28 | 3.32 ± 2.2 | 82.19 ± 5.55 |
| Several times a year | 132.9 ± 10.09 | 24.4 ± 10.02 | 157.3 ± 13.98 | 42.63 ± 7.02 | 23.93 ± 1.96 | 10.43 ± 4.17 | 3.3 ± 1.74 | 80.3 ± 7.57 |
| In more than one year | 136.86 ± 5.15 | 20.57 ± 5.09 | 157.43 ± 4.89 | 46.14 ± 3.44 | 24.43 ± 0.79 | 8.57 ± 3.64 | 3.14 ± 1.68 | 82.29 ± 4.79 |
| Test | 0.205 b | 0.456 b | 0.991 b | 0.043 b, c | 0.717 d | 0.002 b, c | 0.71 b | 0.483 b |
| Side effects of AEDs | ||||||||
| Yes | 132.27 ± 7.76 | 23.03 ± 7.12 | 155.3 ± 9.55 | 41.81 ± 6.5 | 24.3 ± 1.58 | 11.94 ± 4.12 | 3.41 ± 1.99 | 81.46 ± 7.25 |
| No | 134.84 ± 7.51 | 23.16 ± 8.65 | 158 ± 10.58 | 43.82 ± 5.65 | 24.39 ± 1.51 | 9.98 ± 4.61 | 3.14 ± 1.84 | 81.33 ± 6.89 |
| Test | 0.075 a | 0. 673 b | 0.085 a | 0.044 a, c | 0.717 b | 0.004 a, c | 0.381 a | 0.909 a |
Abbreviations: PASTRDU, Parental Attitude Scale for Rational Drug Use; ACU, accurate and conscious use; ESU, effective and safe use; PEMSQ-TR, Turkish Pediatric Epilepsy Medication Self-management Questionnaire; IET, information about epilepsy and treatment; ATCA, adherence to treatment and clinic appointments; TRO, treatment-related obstacles; TSL, treatment and social life; AEDs, antiepileptic drugs.
at-test.
b Mann-Whitney U test.
c P < 0.05.
d Kruskal-Wallis test.
5. Discussion
This study was conducted to determine caregivers’ epilepsy-related medication self-management and attitudes toward rational drug use. There are numerous studies in the literature on pediatric AEDs self-management of caregivers (10, 15); however, this is the first study on the evaluation of the attitudes toward rational drug use and pediatric AEDs self-management. The current study’s findings are consistent with the findings of some studies (16, 17) on parents’ attitudes toward rational drug use. The mean scores on the total PASRDU and its subscales in this study were higher than those of studies conducted by Çelebi and Kuloğlu (13, 18). This result shows that the caregivers are aware of the ESU of AEDs.
Some studies have shown higher PEMSQ scores (2, 10). The total PEMSQ score in this study was lower than in some studies (2, 10). Medication non-adherence to AEDs can result from poor self-management (2). This outcome demonstrates the need for support for caregivers in epilepsy medication self-management.
The age of the child with epilepsy and the parents is closely related to the rational use of AEDs (11, 19). The mean ACU score was higher in parents aged 31 - 40 years than in those younger than 30 years. Contrary to the results of the present study, Gabr and Shams (20) demonstrated that the age of parents with non-adherence was significantly higher than the age of those who were adherent. In this study, the mean ESU score was higher in parents whose children had a seizure aged > 3 years than in parents whose children had a seizure when they were younger than 1 year. Similarly, Lee et al. showed that the probability of adherence was significantly lower in parents who had toddlers than in those who had adolescent children (21). This result shows that the caregiver and the child with epilepsy develop effective coping mechanisms with increasing age.
Studies have shown that high-income levels increase parents’ rational drug use (18, 22, 23). Studies by Modi et al. (10), Modi et al. (17), and Shaju et al. (9) showed that higher family socioeconomic status predicted higher adherence. Contrary to the results of the aforementioned studies, socioeconomic status was observed to affect parents’ attitudes toward rational drug use in this study.
In a systematic review and meta-analysis (8), three studies (19, 20, 24) reported a correlation between the frequency of seizures and medication adherence. One of the studies showed a positive correlation between previous seizure frequency and medication adherence (25); however, the correlation was not observed in the other two studies (15, 20).
In this study, the mean IET score was higher in parents whose children had a seizure frequency of more than one year than in those who stated that their children had seizures several times a week and in parents who stated that their children had no side effects of AEDs than in those whose children experienced the side effects of drugs. It was important for patients to take AEDs as prescribed since irregular treatment can lead to an increase in the number of seizures and improper treatment plan changes (24). Therefore, this finding in the current study is an important indicator in terms of showing that rational use of AEDs reduces the frequency of seizures.
Increasing parents’ education level is a positive factor in epilepsy management. Accordingly, parents can have more information about epilepsy and the use of AEDs. Hirfanoglu et al. reported that maternal education was correlated with better knowledge of epilepsy and AEDs (24). Similarly, Tan reported significant correlations with parental educational levels in the domains of adherence to medications and clinic appointments (5).
The mean TRO score was higher in parents with children younger than 6 years of age than in those with children in the 13 - 18 age group, in parents whose children had a seizure younger than 1 year than in those whose children had a seizure when they were older than 3 years, and in parents whose children had a seizure in the last 48 hours than in those whose children had a seizure more than one year ago. Lee et al. indicated that adherence to AEDs was lower in caregivers who had toddlers than in those who had adolescents (21). Similarly, in this study, having a child with epilepsy at a younger age was an obstacle for parents to the rational use of AEDs and management of epilepsy treatment. This can be associated with the difficulty experienced by the parents of young children with epilepsy with using the AEDs administration route (i.e., nasogastric tube and gastrostomy tube) (14). Qualitative studies are needed to determine the difficulties experienced by parents with children in this age group in the management of AEDs. In addition, the support of health professionals for this group will strengthen parents in the self-management of AEDs.
The mean TSL score was higher in parents who were aged > 41 years than in those younger than 30 years, in parents with children aged 13-18 years than in those with children younger than 6 years of age, and in parents whose children had a seizure after 3 years of age than in those whose children had a seizure before 1 year of age. However, Gabr and Shams reported that maternal age was significantly higher in non-adherent patients than in adherent ones (20). The current study’s findings showed that parents who were younger and had a child with epilepsy at a young age had more difficulties in social life than parents of older children.
This study has two limitations. Firstly, since 86.5% (n = 166) of the study sample consisted of mothers, the scale scores of the mothers and fathers could not be compared. Secondly, although having a child with epilepsy at an early age was identified as a barrier to the rational use of AEDs and management of epilepsy treatment for parents, the reason for this barrier could not be investigated. Qualitative studies are needed to determine the difficulties experienced by parents of children in this age group in the management of AEDs. Although there are limitations in this study, this is the first study on the evaluation of the attitudes toward rational drug use and pediatric AEDs self-management of parents.
5.1. Conclusions
This study showed that although the parents of children with epilepsy had positive attitudes toward rational drug use, their epilepsy medication self-management was relatively poor. The improvement of the understanding of medication self-management can ultimately increase adherence, which will affect the clinical outcomes and quality of life in children with epilepsy. For this reason, clinicians should provide adequate education for the parents of children with epilepsy. Moreover, it is required to search for reasons why epilepsy medication self-management is relatively poor, although parents have positive attitudes toward rational drug use. Therefore, it is suggested to carry out qualitative studies on this topic.
