Enabling safer bathing for people living with epilepsy

This public involvement consultation (PIC) was set up to explore the opinions and ideas of people living with epilepsy for developing a full research project on the topic of prevention of drowning in the bath. The general advice available for people living with epilepsy (PLE) is to have showers instead of baths, or to have a chaperone and not to bath if alone (Epilepsy Action 2019). However, we know that people with epilepsy do have baths and have them alone, and that there are fatal and non-fatal accidents. Twelve people (7 men and 5 women) took part in the PIC via online meetings and written feedback. Principles of thematic content analysis were applied to detailed notes that were taken, and these were examined independently by the two authors to identify similarities and key issues. Seven categories were identified: Research issues and methods, encouraging language, advice and information, options available, consequences, influencing factors and perceptions of risk. The PIC confirmed that people do bathe alone and that the reasoning behind this is complex and warrants investigation. This includes consideration of language, emotions, personal biography and context, and the role of specialists.

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