摘要
EPilepsy is a common neurological disorder among all age groups and socioeconomic classes. Epilepsy surgery has been demonstrated to be a safe and effective treatment for drug-refractory epilepsy.Despite this success, many potential surgical candidates refuse surgery. On average, there is a 20-year delay between the diagnosis of epilepsy and surgical treatment,1 suggesting that epilepsy surgery is underutilized. The prevalence of active epilepsy is even higher in developing countries due to the limited availability and high cost of medication. To date, however, few studies have addressed the reasons for delayed surgical treatment in developing countries such as China. To address these issues, we conducted a cross- sectional survey to document potential barriers limiting patients access to the surgical treatment of epilepsy.
EPilepsy is a common neurological disorder among all age groups and socioeconomic classes. Epilepsy surgery has been demonstrated to be a safe and effective treatment for drug-refractory epilepsy.Despite this success, many potential surgical candidates refuse surgery. On average, there is a 20-year delay between the diagnosis of epilepsy and surgical treatment,1 suggesting that epilepsy surgery is underutilized. The prevalence of active epilepsy is even higher in developing countries due to the limited availability and high cost of medication. To date, however, few studies have addressed the reasons for delayed surgical treatment in developing countries such as China. To address these issues, we conducted a cross- sectional survey to document potential barriers limiting patients access to the surgical treatment of epilepsy.
