Parent reported Health Related Quality of Life (HRQoL) and behaviour in young people with epilepsy before and two years after epilepsy surgery

Abstract Purpose The aim of this study was to compare parent-reported Health Related Quality of Life (HRQoL) and behaviour of young people before (baseline) and two years after paediatric epilepsy surgery (follow-up). Methods The parents of 107 children who underwent epilepsy surgery completed surveys focussing on different aspects of child HRQoL and behaviour at baseline and follow-up. Parents of children with multiple disabilities (n = 27) completed five additional questions focussing on child HRQoL. Changes in scores between baseline and follow-up were compared using Wilcoxon signed-rank tests. Factors associated with changes in scores were analyzed using linear regression. Results HRQoL and behaviour were significantly improved at follow-up (p  Conclusion Parent rated HRQoL and behaviour had improved two years after epilepsy surgery. Seizure freedom was associated with both improvements in HRQoL and behaviour. Additionally, a reduction in AED usage contributed to reduced behavioural difficulties. All children undergoing epilepsy surgery should undergo assessment of HRQoL and behaviour at baseline and follow-up.