DETERMINATION OF PHYSICAL FUNCTIONING FOR EPILEPTIC PATIENT WITH VAGUS NERVE STIMULATOR IMPLANTATION

Abstract

Background: Epilepsy is one of the most common neurological disorders with physical, emotional, and social consequences. Previous studies indicate that epilepsy symptoms can highly affect the epileptic patients’ satisfaction in life.
Objectives: This study aim to explore of physical functioning for epileptic patient with vagus nerve stimulator implantation.
Methodology: A quantitative cross-sectional design was conducted in outpatient clinics at Amriya General Hospital. The Study Period Was extended from September 20th 2023, to February 20th 2024. Nonprobability purposive sampling was used including 100 patients with Vagus nerve stimulator implantation who visited outpatient clinics (epilepsy consultation) at Dr. Saad Al Watari Neurological Sciences Hospital and Neurosurgical Hospital, Iraq. The study instruments consist of two parts. First, regarding socio-demographic characteristics about the participants. The second part the quality of life was assessed using the SF-36item short form survey questionnaires . Data was collected by using structured and the collected data were analyzed using SPSS version 26.
Results: A total of 100 epileptic patients with a mean age 32±SD=2.9) years were involved in the study. 55% were male, and (45%) were females. Majority of the study participant was unmarried, (48%) followed by married, which accounts (45%). Concerning educational status, (40%) had primary education degree. Regarding monthly income, (73%) gets monthly income 300.000–600.000 ID, most of study participants related occupation (36%) were student. Concerning living, (55%) live in urban area. The result of this study was revealed that 47% (M±SD= 21.78 ± 7.036) of the respondents had moderate functional status of quality of life domain. There were statistically significant differences (P- value <0.05) between socio‑demographic characteristics and functioning domain regarding level of education, and occupation.
Conclusion: This study revealed that the quality of life functioning domain among patients with epilepsy was moderate. Epilepsy is highly comorbid with physical disorders, which often additionally limit patient functional abilities in every day.