Cui W, Kobau R, Zack MM; US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Epilepsy Program Among adults with epilepsy reporting recent seizures, one of four on antiseizure medication and three of four not on medication had not seen a neurologist/epilepsy specialist within the last year, the 2010 and 2013 US National Health Interview Surveys. Epilepsy Behav. 2016 Aug;61:78-79. doi: 10.1016/j.yebeh.2016.04.031. Epub 2016 Jun 17.
Jette N, Quan H, Faris P, Dean S, Li B, Fong A, Wiebe S Health resource use in epilepsy: Significant disparities by age, gender, and aboriginal status. Epilepsia. 2008 Apr;49(4):586-93. doi: 10.1111/j.1528-1167.2007.01466.x. Epub 2007 Dec 28.
Sim Y, Nokes B, Byreddy S, Chong J, Coull BM, Labiner DM Healthcare utilization of patients with epilepsy in Yuma County, Arizona: do disparities exist? Epilepsy Behav. 2014 Feb;31:307-11. doi: 10.1016/j.yebeh.2013.10.018. Epub 2013 Nov 5.
Wasade VS, Spanaki M, Iyengar R, Barkley GL, Schultz L AAN Epilepsy Quality Measures in clinical practice: a survey of neurologists. Epilepsy Behav. 2012 Aug;24(4):468-73. doi: 10.1016/j.yebeh.2012.05.017. Epub 2012 Jul 5.
Zack MM, Kobau R National and State Estimates of the Numbers of Adults and Children with Active Epilepsy - United States, 2015. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2017 Aug 11;66(31):821-825. doi: 10.15585/mmwr.mm6631a1.
Epilepsy Learning Healthcare System (ELHS) for Quality Care & Outcome Improvement
Interventional studies are often prospective and are specifically tailored to evaluate direct impacts of treatment or preventive measures on disease.
Observational studies are often retrospective and are used to assess potential causation in exposure-outcome relationships and therefore influence preventive methods.
Expanded access is a means by which manufacturers make investigational new drugs available, under certain circumstances, to treat a patient(s) with a serious disease or condition who cannot participate in a controlled clinical trial.
Clinical trials are conducted in a series of steps, called phases - each phase is designed to answer a separate research question.
Phase 1: Researchers test a new drug or treatment in a small group of people for the first time to evaluate its safety, determine a safe dosage range, and identify side effects.
Phase 2: The drug or treatment is given to a larger group of people to see if it is effective and to further evaluate its safety.
Phase 3: The drug or treatment is given to large groups of people to confirm its effectiveness, monitor side effects, compare it to commonly used treatments, and collect information that will allow the drug or treatment to be used safely.
Phase 4: Studies are done after the drug or treatment has been marketed to gather information on the drug's effect in various populations and any side effects associated with long-term use.
