Prior Lake, Minnesota - Epilepsy, defined as having two or more seizures in a lifetime, is a common neurological condition affecting many people. Anecdotal data indicates that it is more prominent in Native Americans and that their medical care is inadequate. A study at the University of Minnesota, funded entirely by a $10,000 grant from the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community, will document these differences and identify the specifics of these deficiencies so that care can be improved in specific areas.

The experience of 70 Native American epileptics in Minnesota will be compared to that of 70 non-Native American epileptics during the course of the study entitled Quality of Health Care of Native Americans with Epilepsy, which is expected to begin in August 2008 and take about a year to complete.

“We are concerned about the care that Native Americans are getting who suffer from epilepsy, and we want to have accurate information about what is lacking in their care and what we can do to help them get better medical care,” said Principal Investigator and Neurologist Dr. Miguel Fiol, M.D. with the University of Minnesota’s Medical School and Department of Neurology. “We suspect their care is suboptimal, and we want to prove it. We want to not just study this problem, but to do something about it.”

Co-principal Investigator is Dr. Kirk Allison, Ph.D., Program in Human Rights and Health, at the University of Minnesota School of Public Health. Other researchers will also participate in the study.

The information obtained and the intervention lines developed by the team of researchers will be used to educate doctors and other staff on disparity issues and will help structure the U of M Medical School’s revised curriculum. The study will also result in the development of educational materials that will be helpful within clinics and the Native American community. Finally, research findings will be submitted to research journals to benefit others concerned about health disparities in Native Americans across the United States. The precise scientific data obtained will lead to better medial and social care of Native American adults and children with epilepsy.

Specifically, the study seeks to gather valuable medical and social information through a welldesigned, culturally sensitive questionnaire about the quality of care and social adjustment of Native Americans with epilepsy. This care will be compared with that of non-Native Americans with the same condition. With patient consent, medical records will be analyzed for additional related data.

For more information about the study go to www.neurology.umn.edu, call 612-626-7044 or 612 625-9900 #5 or email fiolx001@umn.edu.

The Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community has previously supported other programs and projects of the University of Minnesota including $12.5 million for the football stadium and scholarships. The SMSC has also donated more than $100,000 to the University of Minnesota Cancer Center. To help encourage American Indian youth to pursue a career in dentistry, the SMSC has made $20,000 in grants to the University of Minnesota School of Dentistry for scholarships.

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