Self-Management and Quality of Life in Epilepsy: A Cross-Sectional Analysis Restricted; Files Only

Abstract

Background:

Epilepsy self-management, defined as how adults with epilepsy manage and prevent seizures and

other symptoms, has emerged as a critical part of modern epilepsy care. Many epilepsy self-

management interventions, including the HOme Based Self-management and COgnitive

Training CHanges lives (HOBSCOTCH) program, aim to improve quality of life outcomes in

this population. Understanding the relationship between these two measures at baseline provides

important insight into how these interventions are designed.

Methods:

This study is a secondary analysis of an epilepsy self-management intervention dataset. De-

identified, cross-sectional baseline data from the 2019 - 2024 HOBSCOTCH Georgia

Replication Trial was used to evaluate the relationship between epilepsy self-management,

measured by the Adult Epilepsy Self-Management Instrument (AESMMI-65), and quality of life,

measured by the Quality of Life in Epilepsy (QOLIE-31), among adults with epilepsy. This

relationship was evaluated using a Spearman correlation and a multivariable linear regression

model that included age and gender as covariates.

Results:

Among the 65 individuals included in the study, no significant correlation was found between

epilepsy self-management (AESMMI-65) and quality of life (QOLIE-31) after conducting a

Spearman correlation analysis (ρ =0.08, p=0.51). The multivariable linear regression analysis

found a weak, positive relationship between epilepsy self-management and quality of life

(R²=0.092, adjusted R²=0.047, DF=3, p-value=0.115). AESMMI-65 score was found to be a

marginally significant predictor for QOLIE-31 score (β= 0.27, SE=0.16, p=0.089). Age was also

found to have a weak, positive relationship with QOLIE-31 scores that was close to the

significance threshold (𝛽 = 0.35, SE=0.19, p=0.08).

Conclusions:

The results of this study suggest that epilepsy self-management has a marginally significant

relationship with quality of life in adults with epilepsy. Additional research with increased

sample sizes and subdomain analyses is needed to determine which self-management behaviors

most strongly influence quality of life in adults with epilepsy. These findings may help guide the

development of future epilepsy self-management interventions aimed at improving quality of life

outcomes.

Table of Contents

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Thesis Approval Sheet...2

Abstract Cover Page...3

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Thesis...6

References...27

About this Master's Thesis

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School	Rollins School of Public Health
Department	Epidemiology
Subfield / Discipline	Epidemiology - MPH & MSPH
Degree	M.P.H.
Submission	Master's Thesis
Language	English
Research Field	Health Sciences, Public Health Health Sciences, Epidemiology
Keyword	epilepsy self-management adults behaviors quality of life
Committee Chair / Thesis Advisor	Terry Hartman, PhD, MPH, RD, Emory University Cam Escoffery, PhD, MPH, CHES, Emory University

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