Table 1. Summary of feedback and identified themes from the workshops. The themes are listed in order of perceived prominence in the discussions.
| Theme | Included codes | Summary |
|---|---|---|
| Expand data scope | Combination therapy, comorbidities, compliance, detailed patient stratification, discontinuation reasons, efficacy statistics, generalized epilepsy, less common ASMsa, longer retention rates, more recent data, and third ASM data | Include retention data on third ASMs and combination therapies; update the tool with recent information; provide data on long-term retention; and incorporate data on epilepsy type, various comorbidities, and characteristics that may influence drug suitability to allow for detailed patient stratification. Participants also requested information on reasons for drug discontinuation, including inefficacy, side effects, and reduced compliance. |
| Expand drug information | Drug information, drug interactions, pregnancy risk, seizure recurrence risk, serum concentration, side effects, steady state, and treatment guide | Include information regarding the most clinically relevant side effects and drug-drug interactions, as well as target ranges (trough levels) and timing for blood concentration tests. Participants were also interested in pregnancy-related drug information and the risk of recurrent seizures and whether it varied between different ASMs. Others advocated for a more comprehensive treatment guide with all relevant drug information compiled. |
| Accessibility and usability | Accessibility, data presentation, direct link in EHRb, exclude drugs, mobile app, retention graphs, and visual design | Ensure that the tool can be found via search engines or integrated directly into the electronic medical record system. Several participants suggested developing a mobile app version. Data could be presented in graphs, and the visual design could be improved with a more interesting color scheme, possibly allowing users to pick their preferred scheme. Additionally, the ability to exclude selected drugs would be a valuable feature. |
| General epilepsy educational resources | Basic epilepsy information, diagnostic guide, epilepsy surgery, guidelines, and link compilation | Include basic epilepsy information tailored to junior physicians; a diagnostic guide for identifying and classifying seizure types; and a collection of educational links to reputable sources, including current guidelines. |
| Practical tools for clinical use | Patient information, patient logging, prediction tool, and titration plans | Include printable patient information and standardized titration plans that can be copied and pasted. There were also suggestions for an additional feature in which patients could log seizures and side effects. |
| Limitations | Junior physicians, lack of resolution, misinterpretation risk, and too basic | Several participants considered the information provided too basic for their needs; there were suggestions that it might be more useful for junior physicians. Some thought that the recommendations lacked resolution, causing them to rely on other individual factors when making decisions. Additionally, overly stratifying the information could generate strange results that might be misinterpreted. |
| Promotion and stakeholder involvement | Involve epilepsy process team, local guidelines, promotion, and promotion to junior physicians | Suggestions included involving the regional epilepsy process team, adding information about EPstat to local guidelines for new-onset epilepsy consultations, promoting the tool during continuing education, and targeting advertisements to junior physicians. |
ASM: antiseizure medication.
EHR: electronic health record.