Effect of a Structured Educational Package on Self Efficacy and Drug Adherence among Epileptic Patients

Background: Epilepsy is the most common serious neurological illness worldwide, affecting all age groups. Epilepsy specialist nurses assume a vital role in providing a comprehensive epilepsy education. This will increase patient’s knowledge, adherence to management plan improves their self-efficacy to care for themselves, enhance their quality of life, and possibly reduce patient morbidity and mortality rates. Aim: evaluate the effect of a structured educational package on self‑efficacy and drug adherence among epileptic patients. Research Design: Quasi experimental study was used. Setting: this study conducted at outpatient neuropsychiatry clinic Damnhour National Medical institute, El-Boheria governorate, Egypt. Subjects: a convenient sample of 100 epileptic patients, they were randomly assigned into two equal study and control groups. Tools: three tools were used, tool I "Patient's Socio-demographic and Clinical Data", tool II: "Epilepsy Self‑efficacy Scale" used to assess the different aspects of efficacy in the self-management of epilepsy and tool III: "Medication Adherence Scale" it was used to evaluate a specific adherence behavior. Results: there was statistically significant difference in all items of self-efficacy subscales and drug adherence items after the first and third-month post implementation of a structured educational package. There was found a positive significant correlation between self-efficacy and drug adherence between both studied groups. Conclusion: Nursing educational package for epileptic patients had positive impact increasing the adherence to medications and improves patient’s self-efficacy. Recommendation: Engage nursing educational package in treatment plan of epileptic patients' side by the with the traditional treatment.