Quality of Life and Associated Factors Among Patients with Epilepsy Attending Outpatient Department of Saint Amanuel Mental Specialized Hospital, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 2019

Abstract

Background: Epilepsy is strongly associated with an impaired quality of life. Patients suffering from epilepsy have a poorer quality of life than both the general population and many other chronic disease sufferers. However, attention is not given on the quality of life of people with epilepsy other than focusing on symptom reduction. This increases the frequency of seizures, impacts on the ability to perform and increases health-related costs. The aim of this study was to assess quality of life and associated factors among patients with epilepsy attending the outpatient department of Amanuel Mental Specialized Hospital, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Methods: An institution-based cross-sectional study design was conducted between May and June 2019 at Amanuel Mental Specialized Hospital. A systematic random sampling technique was used to get a total number of 447 samples. Data on quality of life was assessed through interviews using the World Health Organization Quality of Life-Brief (WHOQOL-BREF) Version. The collected data were coded, entered into EpiData 3.1, and analyzed by using SPSS version 20. Simple and multiple linear regression analysis models were fitted and the unstandardized β coefficient at 95% confidence interval was employed. The statistical significance was accepted at p-value <0.05.

Results: The mean score of quality of life was 61.1±11.6 (95%CI: 59.05, 61.23). Perceived stigma (β=-2.13, 95%CI:-2.96, -1.30), frequent seizure (β=-3.16, 95%CI: -4.27, -2.04), AED adherence (β=1.24, 95%CI: 1.10, 1.30), antiepileptic drug side effect (β=-0.32, 95%CI: -0.38, -0.26), anxiety (β-1.91, 95%CI: -2.95, -0.86), depression (β=-3.59, 95%CI: -4.67, -2.52), poor social support (β=-2.51, 95%CI: -3.62, -1.40) and moderate social support (β=-1.60, 95%CI: -2.58, -0.62) were significantly associated factors with quality of life.

Conclusion: The finding from this study indicated that quality of life of patients with epilepsy were moderate. Perceived stigma, frequent seizure, comorbid depression and anxiety, antiepileptic drug nonadherence, antiepileptic drug side effect and poor social support were the predictors of quality of life.

Keywords: WHOQOL-BREF; epilepsy; quality of life.

Figure 1

Percentage of current substance user among patients with epilepsy at Amanuel Mental Specialized Hospital, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 2019 (N=439).