Abstract

ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND:
Compliance behavior depends on the specific clinical situation, the nature of the illness, and the treatment program.
OBJECTIVE:
Determine the rate of drug compliance in families caring for a child or adolescent with epilepsy and to describe some associated factors.
METHODS:
Two hundred patients with epilepsy under 18 years of age, who were attending the pediatric clinic for a twelve month period (August 2007-August 2008) and their families, were interviewed.
RESULTS:
Drug compliance was satisfactory in 123(62.5%) and was poor in 77(37.5%) of the patients according to their self or parental report. Age of the patient, gender, residence, etiology of epilepsy, and monotherapy versus polytherapy did not significantly influence the drug compliance but duration of the disease, parental education, family size and positive family history of epilepsy were more significantly associated with drug non compliance.
CONCLUSION:
In this study, drug compliance was satisfactory in 62.5% of the patients. There was a significant association between drug non compliance and socioeconomic status (large family size, family history of epilepsy, low parental education