Assessing the true learning needs of health care professionals in epilepsy care

This needs assessment, initiated by the American Epilepsy Society (AES) in cooperation with AXDEV Group Inc. (AXDEV), used a mixed-method approach to explore the educational and clinical practice needs of health care professionals in epilepsy care and to identify significant barriers to caring for people with epilepsy. The multiphase assessment began with key informant interviews with AES educational leaders. In Phase II, 26 stakeholders, including epileptologists, neurologists, professionals in epilepsy care, and people with epilepsy, shared their experiences in epilepsy care during four focus groups at the AES annual meeting. In Phase III, a quantitative online survey based on Phase II results was distributed to 228 respondents, including epileptologists (n = 84), neurologists (n = 55), professionals in epilepsy care (n = 69), and others (n = 20). Results of the comprehensive analysis of Phase III quantitative data are presented here. They reveal the unmet needs of health care professionals in this therapeutic domain and are discussed in terms of their implications for epilepsy care. (C) 2007 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.