Evaluating the concerns of pregnant women with epilepsy: a focus group approach

Epilepsy & Behavior : E&B
James W McAuleyMona Prasad

Abstract

Some women with epilepsy stop or decrease their antiepileptic drug (AED) therapy during pregnancy because they fear fetal effects of the therapy. This places the patient and her fetus at risk for potential adverse outcomes due to increased seizure activity. The rationale of this behavior is not completely understood and is underexplored. The aim of this qualitative project was to determine the concerns of pregnant women with epilepsy via small focus groups. Pregnant women with epilepsy were recruited to participate in small group sessions involving direct interviews which were analyzed by thematic content analysis. Ten focus groups were conducted with a total of 21 second or third trimester pregnant women with epilepsy. Twelve women reported changes to their AED regimen during pregnancy, with six having made changes requested by their prescriber and six (29% of all study participants) self-altering their AED regimen. In contrast to the former group, the alterations made by the latter group were either dose-lowering or stopping AEDs altogether. Via content analysis, four pregnancy specific patient-related concerns arose: 1) the safety of drug therapy during pregnancy, 2) potential neonatal complications, 3) labor and delivery is...Continue Reading

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Citations

Dec 3, 2015·Archives of Gynecology and Obstetrics·Antonio Simone LaganàEdoardo Spina
Feb 22, 2016·Epilepsy Research·Eylert BrodtkorbArne Reimers
Jul 31, 2013·Seizure : the Journal of the British Epilepsy Association·Seung Mi LeeJong Kwan Jun
Nov 28, 2012·Seizure : the Journal of the British Epilepsy Association·Annalise Weckesser, Elaine Denny
Nov 12, 2013·Epilepsy & Behavior : E&B·Amanda McGrathKaitlyn Parratt
Mar 25, 2015·Seizure : the Journal of the British Epilepsy Association·Musa Mamman WatilaYakub Wilberforce Nyandaiti
Feb 3, 2016·Seizure : the Journal of the British Epilepsy Association·Judy K QiangEsther Bui
Aug 1, 2013·The Journal of Perinatal & Neonatal Nursing·Donna Jean Ruth, James Barnett
Dec 29, 2019·Acta Neurologica Scandinavica·Lauren HarrisHeather Angus-Leppan
Jun 8, 2017·Medical Decision Making : an International Journal of the Society for Medical Decision Making·Amanda McGrathKaitlyn Parratt

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