Validation of the Seizure-Related Impact Assessment Scale (SERIAS): a study protocol

Emma Foster; Alison Conquest; Chris Ewart; John-Paul Nicolo; Genevieve Rayner; Toby Winton-Brown; Terence J O'Brien; Patrick Kwan; Charles Malpas; Jacqueline A French

doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2024-083929

Validation of the Seizure-Related Impact Assessment Scale (SERIAS): a study protocol

BMJ Open. 2024 Jun 11;14(6):e083929. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2024-083929.

Authors

Emma Foster^{1

2}, Alison Conquest^{3

2}, Chris Ewart⁴, John-Paul Nicolo^{3

2

5}, Genevieve Rayner^{3

6}, Toby Winton-Brown^{2

7}, Terence J O'Brien^{3

2

5

8}, Patrick Kwan^{3

2

5

8}, Charles Malpas^{2

5

6

8}, Jacqueline A French⁹

Affiliations

¹ Department of Neurology, Alfred Health, Prahran, Victoria, Australia emma.foster@monash.edu.
² School of Translational Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
³ Department of Neurology, Alfred Health, Prahran, Victoria, Australia.
⁴ Community and Research Engagement (CaRE) Program, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia.
⁵ Department of Neurology, The Royal Melbourne Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
⁶ Melbourne School of Psychological Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.
⁷ Department of Psychiatry, Alfred Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
⁸ Department of Medicine (The Royal Melbourne Hospital), The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.
⁹ Comprehensive Epilepsy Center, New York University, New York, New York, USA.

Abstract

Introduction: This study aims to validate the Seizure-Related Impact Assessment Scale (SERIAS). This novel patient-reported outcome measure (PROM) compares the 'trade-off' between seizures and treatment-related adverse effects, and measures epilepsy disability qualitatively and quantitively. It fills an important gap in PROMs for epilepsy clinical trials and practice.

Methods and analysis: Adults with epileptologist-confirmed epilepsy from two Australian Epilepsy Centres are being recruited. People with functional seizures, or who are unable to self-complete English-language validated instruments are excluded. Participants providing informed consent are invited to complete questionnaires at baseline, 3 and 6 months later. SERIAS includes five questions that ask about the number of days per month that seizures or treatment-related adverse effects partially or fully impact work/home/school and family/social/non-work activities, as well as a visual analogue scale regarding epilepsy-related disability. SERIAS is completed alongside seven internationally validated instruments measuring treatment-related adverse effects, mood disorders and quality of life. Target recruitment is n=100, ensuring>50 people complete all questionnaires at all timepoints. Comprehensive psychometric analysis will be performed. Convergent validity will be investigated using bivariate correlations with relevant measures. Reliability will be investigated using Cronbach's alpha, McDonald's omega and test-retest correlation coefficients. SERIAS will be a novel PROM for epilepsy clinical trials and practice.

Ethics and dissemination: Multisite ethics approval was granted by the Alfred Health Ethics Committee (HREC 17/23). Results of this study will be disseminated through publication in peer-reviewed journals and presentations at scientific conferences.

Trial registration number: ACTRN12623000599673.

Keywords: Adult neurology; Epilepsy; Quality of Life.

Publication types

Validation Study

MeSH terms

Adult
Australia
Epilepsy / diagnosis
Female
Humans
Patient Reported Outcome Measures*
Psychometrics*
Quality of Life*
Reproducibility of Results
Research Design
Seizures / diagnosis
Surveys and Questionnaires / standards