ORCID
- Rohit Shankar: 0000-0002-1183-6933
Abstract
Background: International guidelines unequivocally endorse the importance and need to discuss Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy (SUDEP) with people with epilepsy (PWE). India is a country accounting for a sixth of all global epilepsy burden. Despite this little is known of Indian neurologists’ knowledge and attitudes to SUDEP. Objective: To explore India Neurologists awareness and attitudes to SUDEP communication to PWE. Methods: A cross-sectional online survey of Likert response questions using validated themes, was circulated among the neurology fraternity, India. Non-discriminatory exponential snowballing technique leading to convenience non-probability sampling was used. The inquiry involved SUDEP-related topics including the awareness, knowledge, need for and importance of counselling. A comparison with other epilepsy risk counselling was made. Descriptive statistics were used for analysis. Results: Of 275 consenting participants, a majority were male (76 %), had over 5 years of practice (63 %), were private practitioners (61 %) and working in urban areas (99 %). Almost all participants (98 %) knew of SUDEP. A fifth (20 %) counselled most or all PWE of SUDEP compared to 90 % discussing risks from daily activities, 89 % driving risk and 38 % psychiatric concerns. There were significant differences to the likelihood of SUDEP counselling being undertaken based on formal epilepsy training (p < 0.001) familiarity with SUDEP guidelines (p < 0.001), and SUDEP risk factors knowledge (p < 0.001). Further training for SUDEP risk and communication was requested by 90 %. Conclusion: While most Indian neurologists have SUDEP awareness there is a significant gap in communication of SUDEP risks to PWE. Virtual training and education could help bridge the knowledge gap.
DOI Link
Publication Date
2025-07-14
Publication Title
Seizure: European Journal of Epilepsy
Volume
131
ISSN
1059-1311
Acceptance Date
2025-07-14
Deposit Date
2025-07-14
Keywords
Counselling, Epilepsy harm, Lower-middle income countries, SUDEP
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 International License.
First Page
212
Last Page
218
Recommended Citation
Shankar, R. (2025) 'Silent Threats: Awareness and Attitudes to Communication of SUDEP Among Neurologists in India: A cross-sectional study', Seizure: European Journal of Epilepsy, 131, pp. 212-218. Available at: 10.1016/j.seizure.2025.07.008
