Self-management Intervention to Reduce Epilepsy Burden in Ugandans with Epilepsy
Official title: Self-management Intervention for Reducing Epilepsy Burden among Ugandans with Epilepsy
Funded at Makerere University College of Health Sciences · NIH-11345942 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A program helps people with epilepsy in Uganda manage their condition daily to improve quality of life and reduce stigma.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Makerere University College of Health Sciences NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Kampala, Uganda) |
| Project start | August 1, 2023 |
| Project end | July 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $390,770 |
| NIH project number | 5R01NS129041-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11345942 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults with epilepsy in Uganda who have limited access to care and could benefit from structured self-management support.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with epilepsy who cannot participate in ongoing follow-up or who require intensive medical management beyond self-management strategies may see limited benefit.
What this research studies
This project tests a self-management curriculum called SMART-U, designed for people with epilepsy in rural and under-resourced settings in Uganda. It builds on pilot work showing the program is acceptable and may improve quality of life, reduce depression and stigma, and lower seizure frequency. The study will regularly assess treatment response and adapt the approach to individual needs within real-world care settings. The goal is to empower patients with practical strategies, support networks, and better access to care to sustain long-term seizure control.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients could experience better seizure control, improved mood, less stigma, and higher quality of life through a scalable self-management approach.
How similar studies have gone: Preliminary pilot work in SMART-U showed high acceptability and signals of improved outcomes, though rigorous efficacy data are pending.
Where this research is happening
-
Makerere University College of Health Sciences
Kampala, Uganda Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Kaddumukasa, Mark — Makerere University College of Health Sciences
- Study coordinator: Kaddumukasa, Mark
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Economic evaluation of MEW Network epilepsy self-management programs for broad adoption
This project tests how cost-effective two epilepsy self-management programs (UPLIFT and PACES) are when used in real-world healthcare and community settings, to help people with epilepsy live better.
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Economic analysis of the MEW self-management program for epilepsy (MINDSET) in real-world settings
This grant studies how a proven epilepsy self-management program can be implemented in communities and clinics, and how its costs and benefits stack up.
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Costs and value of the MINDSET epilepsy self-management program
This project compares the costs and benefits of the MINDSET self-management program for people with epilepsy in clinic and community settings.
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Improving daily life for Ugandans living with epilepsy
This project is developing a self-management program to help people with epilepsy in Uganda better manage their condition and improve their quality of life.
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Evaluating the cost-effectiveness of a self-management program for epilepsy.
This study is looking at how the MINDSET program can help people with epilepsy manage their condition better and whether it’s worth the cost, so that patients can enjoy a better quality of life.
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Evaluating the cost-effectiveness of epilepsy self-management programs
This study looks at how much the UPLIFT and PACES programs, which help people with epilepsy manage their condition and improve their mental health, cost and what benefits they bring, so we can better support and promote these helpful programs in healthcare.
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.