Background:
Nonadherence to medication is widespread in epilepsy and other chronic diseases. Studies reporting adherence to antiepileptic medications are very limited in African countries. Adherence reports from low income African countries are few in contrast to multiple studies from high-income countries. Therefore, the aim of this study is to measure the level of adherence to antiepileptic medication in Sudanese population.
Methods:
A descriptive cross-sectional study of 96 individuals with epilepsy recruited from neurology outpatient clinics in three tertiary centers in Sudan. Data were collected by using a structured questionnaire containing Morisky Medication Adherence Scale-4 (MMAS-4) and Belief about Medication Questionnaire and analyzed by statistical package of social sciences.
Results:
About 35% of patients were estimated to be nonadherent. Most of the patients (93%) acknowledged their need for antiepileptic drugs. However, 35% had high concern score. Adherence is affected by attitude toward antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) and presence of side effects to AEDs. The relation between side effects and adherence was significant (
P
value 0.000). Furthermore, there was a statistically insignificant relation between the number of drugs used and adherence (
P
value 0.002). There was a significant relation between adherence, necessity mean score, concern mean score, and necessity concern differential
P
value 0.000 for all.
Conclusion:
Nonadherence to antiepileptic medication was reported in almost in one third of individuals in this cohort. There were statistically significant associations between nonadherence and both side effects and number of medications used in the treatment of epilepsy. Therefore, family physician should always check compliance with antiepileptic medication. Patient's education about adherence to medication through family physician may in part decrease the recurrence of epileptic seizures. Further research is needed to explore ways to increase adherence with AEDs in a low resource country like Sudan.
Background: COVID-19 outbreak is proving to be an unprecedented disaster, especially in the most afflicted countries including China, Italy, Iran, Egypt and USA in all aspects, especially health, social and economic is too early to forecast any realistic scenario The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of educational intervention on nurses' performance about precautionary measures and coping skills with stressors facing children with COVID-19. Subjects and Method: A convenience sampling of 60 nurses who provide direct care to children. The study was conducted at pediatric outpatient and inpatient isolation unit of Elsanta Hospital which is affiliated to Ministry of Health and Population. Three tools were used in the present study. Structured interview schedule, observational check list about precautionary measures for children with COVID-19 and Nurses' implementation of coping skills with stressors facing children with COVID-19. Results: represented an improvement of educational intervention to nurses about precautionary measures for children with COVID-19 after the program implementation. Conclusion: That nurse's knowledge and practice about precautionary measures of COVID-19and coping skills with stressors of children with COVID-19 improved after the implementation of educational intervention. Recommendation: ongoing in-service education programs to nurses at hospitals about COVID-19 are necessary to improve their knowledge and practice.
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