G189(P) Paediatric epilepsy and core evaluation service (PEACES): a quality improvement initiative

The Paediatric Epilepsy and Core Evaluation Service (PEACES) quality improvement initiative is a questionnaire that aims to investigate parent/carer and patient perceptions of a hospital’s Paediatric Epilepsy Service, and sentiments towards epilepsy itself. It also assesses access to an Epilepsy Specialist Nurse (ESN). This initiative is conducted on the background of the Epilepsy12 national audit, in which the hospital participated. Rounds 1 and 2 suggest that nationally, areas for improvement are the availability of ESNs and the number of referrals made. NICE guidelines recommend the provision of ESNs to children diagnosed with epilepsy. There is currently one ESN available on a community referral basis from GP practices in area X. The hospital’s Epilepsy Service has a wider catchment area, potentially causing discrepancies in ESN provision. Our pilot questionnaire investigates overall ESN access, but improvements to the initiative aim to compare groups of patients who do and do not have ESN access. A pilot questionnaire was conducted in the Outpatient Department over a four-week period and there were 25 responses. The inclusion criteria were children and young persons aged 0–18 with an established diagnosis of epilepsy attending a follow-up appointment. The exclusion criteria were first attendance and a history of only one seizure. The main findings include that 17/25 responders were ‘happy a lot of the time’ with the care they received, and that 11/16 area X residents had access to an ESN. Importantly, the pilot questionnaire enabled us to improve the initiative, in both content and practicalities. Two separate questionnaires have been developed: one for patients with a GP based in area X, and one for all other patients. The revised questionnaires are now electronic rather than paper-based. Following a literature review of parent/carer and child satisfaction questionnaires, we aim to utilise child-friendly question styling: coloured visual analogue scale (VAS) questions will be included alongside the Likert-style questions for children aged 6 to 12. We look forward to observing the responses from the revised questionnaires, and aim to assess the benefits of access to an ESN, which could allow for better care within the Paediatric Epilepsy Services.