Mehmood's (2018) master's thesis includes a robust environmental scan and describes a lack of standard pre-operative intervention programs for epilepsy patients in Canada and globally.
Mehmood (2018) performed an environmental scan by interviewing surgical patients and their caregivers about pre-surgical programs (e.g., counselling) and post-operative concerns (e.g., burden on normality or unrealistic expectations). The environmental scan identified key themes and factors that needed to be addressed before surgery which were decision-making, informational preparation, expectation versus reality, support, and identity. People with epilepsy and those in their support circles shared their experiences and hindsight regarding how interventions could have addressed the quality of life aspects of post-surgery. Lack of preparedness for post-operative challenges can cause psychosocial distress; therefore, peer support, education, and self-management guidance are important aspects of interventions. These concepts are the focus of my health promotion project in epilepsy care.
Questions in the environmental scan that stood out to me included “Was peer support or other forms of support important in your post-surgical recovery and adjustment process? Do you think having accessibility to reach others with similar experiences pre- or post-surgery is important? Why, what benefits do you see coming from this opportunity?” This line of questioning is important for me to understand the need for connection and the role of epilepsy support organizations (i.e., people with similar lived experience) in my health promotion project.
Another benefit of this environmental scan was asking study participants about various delivery methods of educational information and interventions including booklets, classroom based sessions, videos, online support systems, pre-surgical meetings, telephone outreach, one-on-one counselling, cognitive behavioural therapy, peer support and coaching. Feedback on the strengths and limitations of various formats is useful when designing a health promotion project that requires dissemination of important findings and resources.
This environmental scan highlighted factors that influenced patients’ decisions and their experiences during recovery and adjustment phases after epilepsy surgery. Overall, collecting data for this environmental scan enhanced understanding of pre-surgical counselling and intervention programs to support epilepsy patients’ quality of life.
Mehmood, S.Y. (2018). Filling the gap in post surgical epilepsy care: A qualitative needs assessment study of post-surgical epilepsy patients. [Master’s thesis, University of Toronto]. Retrieved November 6, 2023 from https://tspace.library.utoronto.ca/bitstream/1807/82898/3/Mehmood_Sumayya_201803_MSc_thesis.pdf
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