Managing Epilepsy Risk with Memory Difficulty
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Experiences of Managing Epilepsy Risks with Challenges to Memory – An Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis
IRAS ID
350511
Contact name
Ruth Roberts
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Research Services, Research Ethics, Governance and Compliance,
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 5 months, 1 days
Research summary
The study aims to explore how individuals with Epilepsy and difficulties with memory experience discussions of risk with healthcare professionals and their ability to manage their condition. Research suggests that people with Epilepsy often report difficulties with their cognition (e.g. memory and attention). The causes for difficulties with memory in people with epilepsy are usually complicated and difficult to identify. Sometimes, the difficulties people report do not always show up in standard tests. Nevertheless, people with epilepsy often report that memory difficulties can have a big impact on their lives and that these are not always recognised by the health professionals they meet.
People with Epilepsy should be given information about how they can stay safe when having a seizure and things they can do to make their seizures less likely (e.g. identifying triggers and taking medication). There has not been any research that has explored how people with epilepsy who self-report memory difficulties might find these discussions and whether they feel their memory difficulties are accounted for by healthcare professionals. It is hoped that this research can help us to further understand how we can target support in the most helpful way for people with Epilepsy and memory difficulties.
Potential participants will be recruited from Devon Epilepsy Service through the provision of an invitational letter during their routine appointments by their lead epilepsy nurse. Potential participants will then have the choice to contact the lead researcher with questions about the study or follow the link/QR code to receive further information about the study. Once consent forms have been completed, the researcher will contact the participants to arrange their interview and to ask for them to complete some online questionnaires.
REC name
London - Surrey Borders Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
25/LO/0397
Date of REC Opinion
13 Jun 2025
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion