Epilepsy Surgery: Factors That Affect Patient Decision-Making in Choosing or Deferring a Procedure
Table 1
Demographic characteristics of participants.
Surgical group ()
Nonsurgical group ()
value
Age (years)
Median (IQR)
43 (32–47)
54 (42–56)
0.046
Education (years)*
Median (IQR)
14 (12–16)
12 (12–14)
0.163
Birthplace
1.000
NJ
2 (8.7%)
0 (0%)
PA
18 (78.3%)
8 (88.9%)
Other in the USA
2 (8.7%)
1 (11.1%)
Outside the USA
1 (4.3%)
0 (0%)
Current location
1.000
NJ
2 (8.7%)
1 (11.1%)
PA
21 (91.3%)
8 (88.9%)
Marital status
1.000
Single
9 (39.1%)
4 (44.4%)
Married
12 (52.2%)
5 (55.6%)
Divorced
2 (8.70%)
0 (0%)
Children
1.000
No
11 (47.8%)
4 (44.4%)
Yes
12 (52.2%)
5 (55.6%)
Self-reported ethnicity
0.016
White
20 (87.0%)
4 (44.4%)
Black
2 (8.7%)
4 (44.4%)
Indian
1 (4.3%)
0 (0%)
Hispanic
0 (0%)
1 (11.1%)
Currently employed
0.243
No
9 (39.1%)
6 (66.7%)
Yes
14 (60.9%)
3 (33.3%)
On social security disability benefits
0.109
No
16 (69.6%)
3 (33.3%)
Yes
7 (30.4%)
6 (66.7%)
Comorbid depression
0.694
No
11 (47.8%)
3 (33.3%)
Yes
12 (52.2%)
6 (66.7%)
Other comorbid psychiatric disorders
0.005
None
19 (82.6%)
4 (44.4%)
Anxiety
1 (4.4%)
4 (44.4%)
Mood disorder
1 (4.4%)
1 (11.1%)
ADHD
2 (8.7%)
0 (0%)
History of alcohol or illegal drug use
1.000
No
22 (95.6%)
9 (100%)
Yes
1 (4.4%)
0 (0%)
History of smoking cigarettes
1.000
No
19 (82.6%)
7 (77.8%)
Yes
4 (17.4%)
2 (22.2%)
Prior surgical history
0.249
No
11 (47.8%)
2 (22.2%)
Yes
12 (52.2%)
7 (77.8%)
Prior bad surgical experience
1.000
No
20 (87.0%)
8 (88.9%)
Yes
3 (13.0%)
1 (11.1%)
Ordinal data was compared using the Wilcoxen rank-sum test. Categorical data was compared using Fischer’s test. values <0.05 considered significant. *12 years education = high school graduate.
