Minimum Data Set of Self-Care Training Software for Epilepsy Patients

BACKGROUND Epileptics mostly suffer from physical, mental and social disorders. So, it is necessary to offer the patients training programs and improve their skills which may prevent a seizure. Minimum Data Set (MDS) is a standard tool to access accurate data and is essential to design self-care training software for epileptics. This study has been done in order to determine MDS necessary for self-care software of epilepsy. METHODS This descriptive study was conducted in the first half of 2020 in cooperation with 23 neurologists. Questionnaire was the research tool. To validate the questionnaire, validity method was applied and its reliability was confirmed through retest method. Data was analysed using SPSS (ver. 21). RESULTS MDS was organised in to five groups: demographic, clinical symptoms, clinical information, medications and reminders, and recommendations. Demographic information includes 9 data elements, clinical symptoms include 23 data elements, medications and reminders had 2 parts and 11 elements and recommendations include 10 elements. CONCLUSIONS Due to importance of data and information in self-care patients suffering from epilepsy, software role in gathering data and sharing it with doctors and also reducing patients attending the hospital, minimum data must be determined. The designed data set can fulfil epileptics' needs, facilitate processes, promote their health and ease the financial burden of caring for patients with chronic illness.