Epilepsy: clinical review

Content developed by MIMS Learning http://www.mimslearning.co.uk/

INTRODUCTION

With around 1% of the population being treated for epilepsy, it is important for general practice nurses to know enough about the condition and the medications used to be able to support patients, and to conduct annual reviews in a systematic and comprehensive way.

This resource covers the diagnosis and management of epilepsy including prevalence, clinical features and investigations. Key learning points for GPs and other healthcare professionals are how to take a detailed clinical history, choosing an anti-epileptic drug and surgical options.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

After completing this activity, you should be better able to:

Appreciate the prevalence of epilepsy and how it varies internationally
Understand how epilepsy is classified by its presentation and its cause
Take a focussed, relevant history and consider an appropriate differential diagnosis when consulting with a patient presenting with a possible seizure
Appropriately refer and manage a patient presenting with a history of a possible seizure
Explain how the results of tests, used to investigate seizure(s), can be interpreted and/or used
Address an annual review for patients with epilepsy in a systematic and comprehensive way
Describe the prognosis of epilepsy to patients, recognising risk factors for recurrent seizures

AUTHOR

Dr Melissa Maguire, Consultant neurologist, Leeds

NHS North Staffordshire and Keele University

This resource is provided at an advanced level by MIMS Learning. Read the article and reflect on what you have learned, then answer the test questions at the end.

Complete the resource to obtain a certificate of completion to include in your revalidation portfolio. You should record the time spent on this resource in your CPD log.

PRACTICE NURSE FEATURED ARTICLE

Epilepsy: what general practice nurses need to know Dr Ed Warren

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