Results of Eisai Inc. and Epilepsy Foundation National Survey Shed Light on Unmet Needs in Epilepsy Community

Findings suggest need for improved education efforts within epilepsy community and beyond to address misperceptions about the disease

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Eisai Inc.

Oct 01, 2014, 08:30 ET

WOODCLIFF LAKE, N.J., Oct. 1, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Results from a national survey conducted by Eisai Inc., in partnership with the Epilepsy Foundation, found that the vast majority (95%) of epilepsy patients and caregivers believe the public is unaware about how many people are affected by epilepsy, and 89% feel there are aspects of epilepsy even they do not completely understand. Furthermore, 89% of patients and caregivers also reported they believe there is a stigma associated with epilepsy, which may be caused by a lack of understanding associated with the disease. Epilepsy, a disease of the brain characterized by unprovoked seizures that can affect a variety of mental and physical functions, affects more than 2.2 million people in the U.S. and is the nation's fourth most common neurological disorder.

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"These survey findings confirm that there is a wide gap between the needs of people living with or affected by epilepsy and the resources currently available to them," said Frank Ciriello, President, Global Neurology Business Unit at Eisai Inc. "As a company dedicated to advancing epilepsy care for patients and caregivers, we at Eisai will use this survey as a guide to help provide new, meaningful resources to address these needs and further support our human health care mission."

The survey, conducted by Wakefield Research, involved 250 epilepsy patients and 250 caregivers of epilepsy patients, age 18 and over. Key findings are highlighted below.

Lack of Epilepsy Education is Widespread:

55% of respondents believe information about lifestyle modifications for managing epilepsy needs improvement, and 63% believe information about other conditions or health problems associated with epilepsy needs improvement.
Patients and caregivers are looking for better information about managing epilepsy, including seizure triggers (62%), side effects of treatments (58%) and types of treatments (49%).

Lack of Understanding about Epilepsy May Help Drive Misperceptions about the Disease:

More than half (58%) of epilepsy patients reported having kept their condition a secret due to concerns that they would be treated differently.
More than two in five epilepsy patients (44%) reported experiencing discrimination as a result of their epilepsy.

"It is imperative that patients and caregivers receive the very best information and education about their epilepsy and understand how to find credible resources available to them both digitally and in their communities," said Philip M. Gattone, M.Ed., president and CEO of the Epilepsy Foundation. "We at the Epilepsy Foundation have seen first-hand how coordinating awareness efforts and leveraging resources positively impacts individuals impacted by recurring seizures. These survey findings suggest that we all must redouble our efforts to increase public education and understanding of the needs of the epilepsy community."

For more information, visit www.advancingepilepsycare.com and www.epilepsy.com.

About Epilepsy
Epilepsy is a disease of the brain characterized by unprovoked seizures that can affect a variety of mental and physical functions. According to the Institute of Medicine, epilepsy is one of the most common neurological disorders, affecting 2.2 million people in the United States.

About the Survey
This survey was conducted by Wakefield Research among 250 epilepsy patients and 250 caregivers ages 18+, between March 28th and April 14th, 2014, using an email invitation and online survey. Among the respondents, 54% were female and 46% were male, with 43% under the age of 40 and 57% age 40 or older. The mean age of epilepsy patients or persons cared for was 36 years. Respondents were from the South (35%), West (23%), Midwest (23%) and Northeast (19%).

Results of any sample are subject to sampling variation. The magnitude of the variation is measurable and is affected by the number of interviews and the level of the percentages expressing the results. For the interviews conducted in this particular study, the chances are 95 in 100 that a survey result does not vary, plus or minus, by more than 4.4 percentage points from the result that would be obtained if interviews had been conducted with all persons in the universe represented by the sample.

About the Epilepsy Foundation
The Epilepsy Foundation, a national non-profit with 47 affiliated organizations throughout the United States, has led the fight against seizures since 1968. The Foundation is an unwavering ally for individuals and families impacted by epilepsy and seizures. The mission of the Epilepsy Foundation is to stop seizures and sudden unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP), find a cure and overcome the challenges created by epilepsy through efforts including education, advocacy and research to accelerate ideas into therapies. The Foundation works to ensure that people with seizures have the opportunity to live their lives to their fullest potential. For additional information, please visit www.epilepsy.com.

About Eisai Inc.
At Eisai Inc., human health care is our goal. We give our first thoughts to patients and their families, and helping to increase the benefits health care provides. As the U.S. pharmaceutical subsidiary of Tokyo-based Eisai Co., Ltd., our passionate commitment to patient care is the driving force. We are a fully integrated pharmaceutical business with discovery, clinical, manufacturing and marketing capabilities. Our key areas of commercial focus include oncology and specialty care (Alzheimer's disease, epilepsy and metabolic disorders). To learn more about Eisai Inc., please visit us at www.eisai.com/US.

Eisai Inc. has affiliates that are part of a global product creation organization that includes R&D facilities in Massachusetts, New Jersey, North Carolina and Pennsylvania, as well as a global demand chain organization that includes manufacturing facilities in Maryland and North Carolina. Eisai's global areas of R&D focus include neuroscience; oncology; metabolic disorders; vascular, inflammatory and immunological reaction; and antibody-based programs.