Bridging the Gap: Educating Patients on Social Determinants of Health to Improve Epilepsy Surgery Access and Outcomes

This study aims to understand and address challenges patients face in getting epilepsy surgery. Researchers will first gather information from patients and healthcare providers through surveys and focus groups to identify what prevents people from accessing or undergoing epilepsy surgery. Then, a video-based program called PEERS, along with other educational materials, will be tested. This program focuses on how social determinants of health (like your living situation or access to transportation) can affect epilepsy surgery and its results. The study will look at how acceptable the PEERS Program is to patients. You may be eligible if you are at least 18 years old and have epilepsy, especially if you have been evaluated for epilepsy surgery at Cleveland Clinic.

Study design: This interventional study plans to enroll 310 participants. It involves surveys, focus groups, and a video-based educational program called PEERS.
What's involved: Participants will complete surveys and may participate in focus groups. Some participants will also engage with the PEERS Program.
Compensation: Not stated in the trial record.
Follow-up: Acceptability of the PEERS Program will be measured at baseline and prior to discharge from the Cleveland Clinic Epilepsy Monitoring Unit.

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Bridging the Gap: Educating Patients on Social Determinants of Health to Improve Epilepsy Surgery Access and Outcomes

Recruiting

NAAges 18+InterventionalSupportive care

Anny Reyes

~310 participants

Updated 2026-04-03 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What's tested:PEERS ProgramSurveysFocus group

At a glance

Recruiting sites

1 of 1 listed site is recruiting right now

RecruitingSuspended, closed, or not yet open

What they're measuring

Part 2a: Identify primary barriers to accessing and undergoing epilepsy surgery

Measured over At study enrollment

+4 more outcomes measured

Conditions

Epilepsy

Where it's being run

1 sites across 1 states

Ohio1

Study leadership

Anny Reyes, PhD · PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR · The Cleveland Clinic

Who to contact

Anny Reyes, PhD

[email protected]

216-390-4266

Email the study team

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Do you actually qualify for this trial?

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Eligibility criteria

Inclusion

Part 1:

Epilepsy diagnosis

Completion of epilepsy surgical evaluation at Cleveland Clinic

Recommendation for resective/ablation surgery or implantation of neurostimulation device

At least 18 years old

Part 2a - Patient survey:

At least 18 years old

Epilepsy diagnosis

Evaluated for epilepsy surgery

English proficiency enough to complete survey

Part 2a - Provider survey:

Healthcare professional in the US who is involved in the clinical care or treatment of individuals with epilepsy

Part 2b - Cleveland Clinic patient focus groups:

Epilepsy diagnosis

Previously completed epilepsy workup at Cleveland Clinic

At least 18 years old

Has Basic Interpersonal Fluency Skills in English (based on phone interview)

Has no evidence of dementia or intellectual disability that would interfere with participation in the focus group

Part 2b - Cleveland Clinic provider focus groups:

Clinicians that are members of Cleveland Clinic Epilepsy Center and provide care to patients with epilepsy

Part 2b - Community patient focus groups:

Epilepsy diagnosis

Previously completed epilepsy workup

At least 18 years old

Has Basic Interpersonal Fluency Skills in English (based on phone interview)

Part 2b - Community provider focus groups:

Clinician that provides care to patients with epilepsy outside of Cleveland Clinic

Part 3:

At least 18 years old

Fluent in English

Being evaluated for epilepsy surgery at the Cleveland Clinic Epilepsy Monitoring Unit

Exclusion

Part 1:

Previous epilepsy surgery or implantation of neurostimulation device

Part 2a - Patient survey:

Unable to fluently read English

Has evidence of dementia or intellectual disability that would interfere with patient's understanding of surveys

Part 2a - Provider survey:

Unable to fluently read English

Part 2b - Cleveland Clinic patient focus groups:

Is not fluent in English

Has evidence of dementia or intellectual disability that would interfere with patient's understanding of or ability to participate in the focus group

Has had prior epilepsy surgery

Part 2b - Cleveland Clinic provider focus groups:

Clinicians involved in the development of the study design

Part 2b - Community patient focus groups:

Is not fluent in English

Has evidence of dementia or intellectual disability that would interfere with patient's understanding of or ability to participate in the focus group

Has had prior epilepsy surgery

Part 3:

Is not fluent in English

Evidence of dementia or intellectual disability that would interfere with patient's understanding of intervention

What this trial measures

Part 2a: Identify primary barriers to accessing and undergoing epilepsy surgeryAt study enrollment
People with epilepsy and providers will be asked to complete a roughly 20 minutes online survey (providers receive a different form of the survey than what patients receive)
Part 2b: Further identify barriers associated with lack of access and utilization of epilepsy surgeryAt study enrollment
People with epilepsy and epilepsy providers (both from within Cleveland Clinic and from the outside community) will be asked to fill out surveys and participate in focus groups with semi-structured interviews
Part 3: Determine acceptability of PEERS ProgramBaseline, and Prior to discharge from the Cleveland Clinic Epilepsy Monitoring Unit
Acceptability will be measured by baseline and post-intervention assessment completion, with success defined as greater than 80% of participants completing both assessments.
Part 3: Determine satisfaction of PEERS ProgramPrior to discharge from the Cleveland Clinic Epilepsy Monitoring Unit
Measured by the Client Satisfaction Questionnaire (Min-Max 8-32, higher number is greater satisfaction)
Part 3: Determine effectiveness of PEERS ProgramBaseline, and Prior to discharge from the Cleveland Clinic Epilepsy Monitoring Unit
Measured by the Trust in Physician Scale (Min-Max 11-55; higher number is higher level of trust)

Trialytics