Establishing Priorities for Epilepsy Care and Electroencephalogram Use in Low-Resource Settings

Authors

Alexander Andrews, Division of Neurology, George Washington University/Children's National Hospital, Washington, District of Columbia.
Yamikani Chimalizeni, Blantyre Malaria Project, Blantyre, Malawi.
Dana Harrar, Division of Neurology, George Washington University/Children's National Hospital, Washington, District of Columbia.
Emmie Mbale, Department of Pediatrics, Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital, Blantyre, Malawi.
Kondwani Kawaza, Department of Pediatrics, Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital, Blantyre, Malawi.
Tesfaye Zelleke, Division of Neurology, George Washington University/Children's National Hospital, Washington, District of Columbia.
Maiden D. Wadson, Department of Pediatrics, Thyolo District Hospital, Thyolo, Malawi.
John Barber, Division of Biostatistics and Study Methodology, Children's National Research Institute, Washington, District of Columbia.
Jessica Chikwana, Department of Pediatrics, Zomba Central Hospital, Zomba, Malawi.
Ugur Erickson, Center for Translational Research, Children's National Research Institute, Washington, District of Columbia.
Alice M. Liomba, Blantyre Malaria Project, Blantyre, Malawi.
Douglas G. Postels, Division of Neurology, George Washington University/Children's National Hospital, Washington, District of Columbia.

Document Type

Journal Article

Publication Date

10-1-2024

Journal

The American journal of tropical medicine and hygiene

DOI

10.4269/ajtmh.24-0392

Abstract

We convened an electroencephalography and epilepsy think tank in Blantyre, Malawi, bringing together American pediatric neurologist clinical researchers and Malawian clinicians. We worked with the aim of improving care for children with seizures and epilepsy in southern Malawi. By sharing and discussing ideas, six United States-based researchers and six Malawian end users developed consensus for directions of both current and future clinical research activities. Compared with our previous use of informal one-to-one discussions to generate research ideas, we found the structured think tank useful for generating ideas and better establishing links between clinical researchers and those who will eventually use the results of their work. We hope that these new interactions will lead to a self-sustaining environment integrating clinical care and research, leading to improvements in brain health for the children of Malawi and integrating technology in the places where it will be most clinically useful.

APA Citation

Andrews, Alexander; Chimalizeni, Yamikani; Harrar, Dana; Mbale, Emmie; Kawaza, Kondwani; Zelleke, Tesfaye; Wadson, Maiden D.; Barber, John; Chikwana, Jessica; Erickson, Ugur; Liomba, Alice M.; and Postels, Douglas G., "Establishing Priorities for Epilepsy Care and Electroencephalogram Use in Low-Resource Settings" (2024). GW Authored Works. Paper 5896.
https://hsrc.himmelfarb.gwu.edu/gwhpubs/5896

Department

Neurology