Kontakt X:X | DOI: 10.32725/kont.2026.064

Quality of life in patients with epilepsy: a cross-sectional studyNursing - Original article

Michaela Miertová * ORCID..., Ema Pôbišová, Anna Ovšonková ORCID...
Comenius University in Bratislava, Jessenius Faculty of Medicine in Martin, Department of Nursing, Martin, Slovak Republic

Objectives: The aim of this study was to assess quality of life (QoL) in adult patients with epilepsy and to identify the most common factors associated with the onset of epileptic seizures and with epilepsy-related issues.

Methods: A descriptive, prospective cross-sectional study was conducted among 134 participants. Data were collected using the Quality of Life in Epilepsy (QOLIE-31) (Version 1.0) questionnaire, with items focused on factors that trigger epileptic seizures and problems associated with epilepsy. Multivariate analysis was used to assess the differences between QoL and selected variables.

Results: According to the QOLIE-31 overall mean score (54.20 ± 16.35), QoL was found to be at a moderate level. In connection with epilepsy, 52.2% of patients had problems recalling the right words, and 58.2% of patients had experiences with shaming because of epilepsy. Stress was identified as a provoking factor of epileptic seizures in 55.2% of patients. We found a significant positive low relationship between QoL and five selected variables (r = 0.332, F(5; 128) = 3.972, p = 0.014). Multiple linear regression analysis showed that the set of five predictors explained 10.4% of the variance in QoL in patients. The significant predictor was the duration of the seizure-free period (β = 0.295, p < 0.001).

Conclusion: Patients with epilepsy had reduced QoL, with a variety of associated factors. These results indicate the direction in which educational interventions should be targeted toward patients and public.

Keywords: Adult patients; Cross-sectional study; Epilepsy; Quality of life
Conflicts of interest:

The authors have no conflict of interest to declare.

Received: April 29, 2026; Revised: August 10, 2026; Accepted: September 29, 2026; Prepublished online: October 12, 2026 

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