Quality of life, adherence and knowledge of epileptic patients and the impact of a pharmacist‐led educational intervention: A review

Abstract

Abstract Around 65 million individuals suffer from epilepsy worldwide, and when it is not properly treated, it is linked to higher rates of physical harm and mortality. Due to the requirement for long‐term therapy and the side effects of many medications, medication compliance is a significant issue. The purpose of this review was to summarize the findings of previous studies examining the quality of life (QOL), adherence, patient education, and medication knowledge, as well as the impact of a pharmacist‐led educational intervention. Additionally, to find out if these studies benefit epileptic patients, to find the appropriate method used to help them in all aspects of their lives, and to use these in future studies. A systematic and comprehensive search was conducted using specific keywords from PubMed, Google Scholar, and Research Gate. A significantly poorer QOL was linked to prolonged antiepileptic drug use or poor adherence as well as psychiatric problems. Neglect was the most frequent reason for nonadherence. The frequency of seizures was greatly reduced, and the adherence was significantly increased by patient education and medication understanding. Patient awareness, adherence, QOL, and seizure frequency were dramatically improved following the intervention. In the absence of optimal treatment, epilepsy is associated with increased rates of bodily injuries and mortality. It is crucial to increase patient education and knowledge about disease and treatment in order to improve adherence, and QOL. Intervention by a chemist is required to achieve these results.

Keywords

• epileptic patients
• quality of life
• adherence
• knowledge
• patient education
• pharmacist‐led intervention