Newswise (11/11/24)

For people with epilepsy, non-specialists are a key part of the care team. Though they may not manage an individual's disease directly, these individuals need to be well-informed about the disease to improve epilepsy diagnosis and treatment. Also, many countries do not have enough specialists to care for people with the disease, so it is critical that non-specialists are well-informed. Data from an International League Against Epilepsy survey indicate that 60% of respondents were not aware of epilepsy-specific curricula for non-specialists in their countries, but 95% said they would support such a program. Among the epilepsy-related courses for non-specialists that have been launched worldwide are EEG training in Asia, community-based interventions in Africa and Asia, and an online class and a university-based hybrid course in Latin America. A recent study measured the impact of the British Paediatric Neurology Association's 1-day Paediatric Epilepsy Training (PET1) course between 2005, when they were launched, and 2020. Since 2005, more than 19,000 people have attended PET courses — and the classes are now available in more than 20 countries worldwide. Among more than 7,500 healthcare professionals who completed a PET1 course, 98% rated the course as excellent or good, and knowledge scores rose from 75% before the course to 88% after taking it. In a subset of participants surveyed on changes in clinical behavior 6 months after completion, 98% said the course had a positive impact on their clinical practice. Additionally, 33 respondents noted they have established dedicated epilepsy clinics after taking a PET1 course, 40 respondents said they created new local guidelines for children with the condition, and almost 300 worked to improve or introduce epilepsy training at local hospitals.

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