Adaptability of Pediatric Residents for the International League Against Epilepsy-2017 Seizure Classification with a Modular Education Program

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the adaptability of pediatric residents to the current seizure classification of the International League Against Epilepsy-2017 (ILAE-2017) using a modular education program (MEP).

Materials and Methods: The MEP design consisted of 8 modules, including 5 modules for the current version of the ILAE-2017 seizure classification and 3 modules for the older ILAE-1981 version. The MEP was implemented with a group of pediatric residents, and it comprised 50 illustrative pediatric seizure videos along with an instruction manual kit that included a seizure determinator. Following a 3-month follow-up period, a posttest was conducted using 58 new videos in the MEP.

Results: The overall success rates of the participants were similar both ILAE-2017 (41%) and ILAE-1981 (38.5%) seizure classifications in the post-MEP test. Regarding the ILAE-2017 mod- ules, the participants demonstrated a higher proficiency in classifying focal nonmotor seizures (56.3%) compared to focal motor seizures (34.9%). However, when it came to generalized seizures, the participants had significantly lower accuracy rates for generalized nonmotor seizures (26%) compared to generalized motor seizures (46%) with the ILAE-2017 classifica- tion. The seizure types that were most commonly misclassified, with an error rate exceeding 50%, were automatisms and myoclonic seizures within the focal seizure modules and atypical absences in generalized seizure modules of ILAE-2017.

Conclusion: The single-day MEP yielded modest results, with a success rate of 41% in terms of the initial adaptability of pediatric residents to the ILAE-2017 seizure classification. However, to ensure successful implementation of the ILAE-2017 classification in clinical practice, additional booster applications of the MEP are required.

Cite this article as: İmanli M, Şimşek E, Dezhakam A, et al. Adaptability of pediatric residents for the International League Against Epilepsy-2017 seizure classification with a modular education program. Turk Arch Pediatr. 2023;58(5):509-514.