Patient engagement key to improving epilepsy outcomes

The results of a  project which UCB collaborated on,  originally presented at the 2018 American Epilepsy Society, has been referenced in a prominent editorial published within the Lancet Neurology.
 
The editorial asks why some people with epilepsy do not receive drug treatment, suggesting that some patients may not have confidence in their current treatment plan or diagnosis based on the dialogue between them and their healthcare professional. It also describes how these factors may contribute to poor outcomes.
 
The editorial goes on to suggest that, by allowing patients to participate in the clinical decision-making process, and by improving communication and patient education, it could be possible to improve treatment adherence and reduce the impact of epilepsy on patients’ day-to-day activities.
 
These perspectives are very much aligned to UCB’s focus on improving patient outcomes through partnerships, our commitment to listening to patients and addressing their emotional needs, and our call to break down silos to create patient value.
 
UCB have recently embarked on a pioneering global initiative which aims to improve real-world outcomes for people living with epilepsy. The UCB Epilepsy Outcomes Project (EOP) features engagement with experts, patients and leaders in healthcare delivery innovation to focus on enhancing patient experiences.
 
By approaching the challenge of improving value from a variety of stakeholder perspectives, we hope to be able to provide recommendations and suggested models of care. This will help to deliver tangible benefits for patients and for the wider global epilepsy community.
 
This initiative will focus on three areas: communication gaps between patients and healthcare professionals about epilepsy and epilepsy treatments, factors leading to treatment gaps related to anti-epileptic drug selection initiation, and epilepsy diagnosis in emergency departments.
 
One key element of the project, the EXCEED (Enhancing eXpert Communication to Evolve the Epilepsy Dialogue) study, aims to provide a robust evidence base from which experts can develop guidelines and recommendations. This will support better dialogue, understanding and better treatment decisions and responses. Initial findings from this research are expected later this year.
 
These activities demonstrate our ongoing focus and commitment to epilepsy leadership. UCB will continue to work with stakeholders to improve experiences for people with epilepsy and progress towards eradicating the impact of epilepsy around the world.