Employment status and epilepsy

• Main Authors: C. Arambepola (Author), I. Wijesekera (Author)
• Format: Book
• Published: College of Community Physicians of Sri Lanka, 2003-12-01T00:00:00Z.
• Subjects: article
• Online Access: Connect to this object online.

Summary

<p><strong>Objectives:</strong> To determine the influence of epilepsy, namely, nature of seizures, effects of anti-epileptic drugs and social stigma on the employment status of patients with epilepsy.</p><p> </p><p><strong>Methods:</strong> A hospital clinic based cross sectional study was conducted over a period of one month among 217 non schooling adult patients with epilepsy attending the Neurology clinic, NHSL. An interviewer-administered questionnaire that derived information on disease characteristics and employment status was used.</p><p> </p><p><strong>Results:</strong> Nearly 37% of the patients was currently employed. Of the unemployed, 45% were previously employed and 55% were never employed. Under-employment was not reflected among the employed patients. Although performance at work revealed a gender difference (p<0.01), absenteeism related to epilepsy did not. Age of onset, duration and stigma of epilepsy were significantly related to current employment status (p<0.01). Stigma was the only disease characteristic that was associated with poor performance at work (p<0.01) and was the commonest reason for losing jobs and for remaining unemployed, Seizure severity was associated only with absenteeism. Antiepileptic-drug effects did not associate with any variable considered (p>0.5). Although educational status was poor among the unemployed (p<0.01), it could not be associated with early age of onset of epilepsy (p>0.05).</p><p> </p><strong>Conclusions:</strong> More than one facet of the employment status was affected by epilepsy in the majority of patients, stigma being the major contributor.

Item Description

1391-3174
2579-1451
10.4038/jccpsl.v8i1.8304