PRISE: Predicting the number of seizures in people with epilepsy V.1

  • Research type

    Research Study

  • Full title

    PRISE: Predicting RIsk of future Seizures through Evidence-based decision making – Testing the clinical utility of an online seizure calculator (part of the wider PRISE study)

  • IRAS ID

    343612

  • Contact name

    Laura J Bonnett

  • Contact email

    ljbcmshe@liverpool.ac.uk

  • Sponsor organisation

    Clinical Directorate, University of Liverpool

  • Duration of Study in the UK

    0 years, 6 months, 29 days

  • Research summary

    Seizures happen because of sudden bursts of electrical activity in the brain. People with two or more unprovoked seizures are usually diagnosed with epilepsy. As epilepsy varies so much between each person, it can be difficult to make decisions about best care.

    An indication of how many seizures a person is predicted to have in a given timeframe could help patients and doctors to have conversations and make decisions about care. A prediction model can provide that guidance.

    The PRISE project seeks to both design and assess the use of a prediction model for epilepsy clinicians to use when having a clinical consultation with people with epilepsy. The prediction model will be contained in a website and predict the number of seizures a person will have in a given timeframe. It can be thought of like a calculator. In order to best position the calculator for use, it is important to understand key stakeholder's views to maximise acceptability and feasibility. This formative work involved running workshops with service users (people with epilepsy and family and friends of people with epilepsy) and epilepsy specialists to understand their preferences regarding the design of the calculator. The results of these workshops will inform how the calculator looks and how results are presented. This work took place over summer 2024 and was covered by University ethics.

    We now aim to give 10 epilepsy specialists access to the calculator and ask each to use it 10 times in consultations with different patients. We will then conduct one-to-one interviews with the 10 epilepsy specialists and some of the patients with whom the calculator was used, to learn about their experiences of having it featured in the consultation. We are completing this application for permission to conduct this.

  • REC name

    North West - Greater Manchester East Research Ethics Committee

  • REC reference

    24/NW/0394

  • Date of REC Opinion

    17 Feb 2025

  • REC opinion

    Further Information Favourable Opinion