FLIP&FLAP—A training programme for children and adolescents with epilepsy, and their parents

ObjectiveThe objective of this article is to present the development, contents and efficacy of the FLIP&FLAP programme for children and adolescents with epilepsy, and their parents.InterventionThe programme is mainly directed at age-appropriately developed children and adolescents between 6 and 16 who take antiepileptic drugs. It is conducted as a 2.5-day group training programme; children and parents are grouped separately. The main focuses are:
• conveying epilepsy knowledge in an age-appropriate manner
• teaching individual coping strategies
• encouraging child autonomy.Evaluation studyWe performed a multi-centre non-randomised two-group pre-/post-trial using a waiting-list control group design. 10 German epilepsy centres participated. The intervention group, IG (21 children 8–11 years, 44 adolescents 12–16 years, 72 parents) completed standardised questionnaires immediately before the FLIP&FLAP course and 6 months later; the waiting control group, WCG (31 children, 39 adolescents, 72 parents) 6 months before and immediately before the course. Compared to the WCG, the children and parents of the IG showed significantly improved knowledge of epilepsy, with medium to large effect sizes (univariate analysis of variance with repeated measurements, d = 0.6–1.4). Parents of the IG reported improved self-management skills (d = 0.7) and communication skills (d = 0.8) of their child and fewer epilepsy-related worries (d = 0.5). Children and adolescents of the IG reported improved HRQOL in the Social Exclusion dimension (d = 0.3).ConclusionFLIP&FLAP is an effective child- and family-centred programme. It is currently being established in Northern Germany to test its usefulness in routine care.