Background: Many women with epilepsy (WWE) navigate complex decisions regarding their reproductive health. The internet can provide specific educational resources for WWE from preconception to postpartum. This study reviewed the type and quality of online resources targeting WWE from preconception to postpartum.
Methods: A systematic search of Google, YouTube, GooglePlay Store, and Spotify was conducted online using four search terms: "women and epilepsy," "epilepsy in women," "preconception to postpartum and women with epilepsy," and "epilepsy and pregnancy." The HONcode and DISCERN tools were used to measure the reliability and overall quality of the resources. Additional study-specific questions were included to assess each resource's audience relevancy.
Results: A total of 240 initial search results were identified. Of these, 43 resources were included for quality assessment. These resources comprised of 26 websites (22 %), 13 videos (33 %), 4 podcasts (10 %), and no Applications. The average quality score for these 43 resources was 47.97 (SD = 13.67), out of a maximum of 75, which is rated as 'fair.' Out of the 26 websites, 12 % were HONCode certified. The average readability/listenability, language, sensitivity, accessibility, value, and consistency of information was high (from a scale of 1 to 5, the scores ranged from M = 3.90, SD = 1.13 to M = 4.27, SD = 0.930).
Conclusion: Online resources for WWE are deemed usable, however improvements could be made to enhance their overall quality. This paper provides a list of reviewed resources to support in the delivery of reliable information for women with epilepsy.
Keywords: Epilepsy; Health information; Reproductive health; Resources; Women with epilepsy.
Copyright © 2025 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.