Epilepsy: the percentage of patients age 18 years and over on drug treatment for epilepsy who have a record of seizure frequency in the previous 15 months.

Brief Summary

TITLE

SOURCE(S)

British Medical Association (BMA). Quality and outcomes framework guidance for GMS contract 2008/09. London (UK): British Medical Association, National Health Service Confederation; 2008 Apr. 148 p.

Measure Domain

PRIMARY MEASURE DOMAIN

Process

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SECONDARY MEASURE DOMAIN

Does not apply to this measure

Brief Abstract

DESCRIPTION

This measure is used to assess the percentage of patients aged 18 years and over on drug treatment for epilepsy who have a record of seizure frequency in the previous 15 months.

RATIONALE

Epilepsy is the most common serious neurological condition, affecting about 5 to 10 per 1000 of the population at any one time. Few epilepsies are preventable, but much of the handicap that results could be prevented by appropriate clinical management. For the purposes of the Quality and Outcomes Framework (QOF), epilepsy is defined as 'recurrent unprovoked seizures.' This measure is one of four Epilepsy measures.

According to the Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (SIGN) 70 guideline (2003), it is recommended that the following information should be recorded routinely in patients' notes at each review:

Seizure type and frequency, including date of last seizure
Antiepileptic drug therapy and dosage
Any adverse drug reactions arising from antiepileptic drug therapy
Key indicators of the quality of care, i.e., topics discussed and plans for future review

National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) clinical guidelines 20 (2004) suggests that 'all individuals with epilepsy should have a regular structured review …in adults this review should be carried out at least yearly by either a generalist or a specialist.' This guidance therefore supports the current epilepsy indicators which are in essence the component parts of an annual structured face to face review, where clinically appropriate.

PRIMARY CLINICAL COMPONENT

Epilepsy; seizure frequency

DENOMINATOR DESCRIPTION

Patients age 18 years and over on drug treatment for epilepsy

NUMERATOR DESCRIPTION

Number of patients from the denominator who have a record of seizure frequency in the previous 15 months

DATA SOURCE

Medical record
Registry data

Identifying Information

ORIGINAL TITLE

Epilepsy 6. The percentage of patients age 18 and over on drug treatment for epilepsy who have a record of seizure frequency in the previous 15 months.

MEASURE COLLECTION

Quality and Outcomes Framework Indicators

MEASURE SET NAME

Epilepsy

DEVELOPER

British Medical Association
National Health System (NHS) Confederation

FUNDING SOURCE(S)

The expert panel who developed the indicators are entirely funded by a grant from the English Department of Health.

COMPOSITION OF THE GROUP THAT DEVELOPED THE MEASURE

The main indicator development group is based in the National Primary Care Research and Development Centre in the University of Manchester. They are: Professor Helen Lester, NPCRDC, MB, BCH, MD; Dr. Stephen Campbell, NPCRDC, PhD; Dr. Umesh Chauhan, NPCRDC, MB, BS, PhD.

Others involved in the development of individual indicators are: Professor Richard Hobbs, Dr. Richard McManus, Professor Jonathan Mant, Dr. Graham Martin, Professor Richard Baker, Dr. Keri Thomas, Professor Tony Kendrick, Professor Brendan Delaney, Professor Simon De Lusignan, Dr. Jonathan Graffy, Dr. Henry Smithson, Professor Sue Wilson, Professor Claire Goodman, Dr. Terry O'Neill, Dr. Philippa Matthews, Dr. Simon Griffin, Professor Eileen Kaner.

FINANCIAL DISCLOSURES/OTHER POTENTIAL CONFLICTS OF INTEREST

None for the main indicator development group.

ENDORSER

National Health Service (NHS)

ADAPTATION

Measure was not adapted from another source.

RELEASE DATE

2004 Apr

REVISION DATE

2008 Apr

MEASURE STATUS

Please note: This measure has been updated. The National Quality Measures Clearinghouse is working to update this summary.

SOURCE(S)

British Medical Association (BMA). Quality and outcomes framework guidance for GMS contract 2008/09. London (UK): British Medical Association, National Health Service Confederation; 2008 Apr. 148 p.

MEASURE AVAILABILITY

The individual measure, "Epilepsy 6. The Percentage of Patients Age 18 and Over on Drug Treatment for Epilepsy Who Have a Record of Seizure Frequency in the Previous 15 Months," is published in the "Quality and outcomes framework guidance." This document is available from the British Medical Association Web site.

NQMC STATUS

This NQMC summary was completed by ECRI on May 22, 2006. The information was verified by the measure developer on August 11, 2006. This NQMC summary was updated by ECRI Institute on January 16, 2009.

COPYRIGHT STATEMENT

No copyright restrictions apply.

Disclaimer

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Brief Summary

TITLE

SOURCE(S)

Measure Domain

PRIMARY MEASURE DOMAIN

SECONDARY MEASURE DOMAIN

Brief Abstract

DESCRIPTION

RATIONALE

PRIMARY CLINICAL COMPONENT

DENOMINATOR DESCRIPTION

NUMERATOR DESCRIPTION

DATA SOURCE

Identifying Information

ORIGINAL TITLE

MEASURE COLLECTION

MEASURE SET NAME

DEVELOPER

FUNDING SOURCE(S)

COMPOSITION OF THE GROUP THAT DEVELOPED THE MEASURE

FINANCIAL DISCLOSURES/OTHER POTENTIAL CONFLICTS OF INTEREST

ENDORSER

ADAPTATION

RELEASE DATE

REVISION DATE

MEASURE STATUS

SOURCE(S)

MEASURE AVAILABILITY

NQMC STATUS

COPYRIGHT STATEMENT

Disclaimer

NQMC DISCLAIMER

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