Application and value of tele-education in promoting standardized epilepsy care_Journal of Epilepsy

Authors：

LU Lu , ZHANG QI , XIAO Jing , XIONG Weixi ,  ZHOU Dong

Department of Neurology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, China;

Corresponding?author：

ZHOU Dong, Email: zhoudong66@yahoo.de

Keywords：

Tele-education; Homogenization; Standardized care; Intersectoral Global Action Plan (IGAP); China Association Against Epilepsy (CAAE)

DOI：

10.7507/2096-0247.202607004

Video：

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Epilepsy is one of the five neurological and psychiatric disorders prioritized by the World Health Organization (WHO). In 2022, WHO launched the Intersectoral Global Action Plan on Epilepsy and Other Neurological Disorders (IGAP), using epilepsy as an entry point to coordinate global, regional, and national efforts to narrow the gaps in the diagnosis, treatment, and care of neurological disorders. Because of the uneven distribution of epilepsy specialists and the limited capacity of primary care institutions, many people with epilepsy still lack access to high-quality, standardized care, and the "treatment gap" persists worldwide. Tele-education, unconstrained by time and geography, offers unique advantages in accessibility and cost-effectiveness and has shown great potential for promoting the homogenization of care across epilepsy centers at all levels. We review the practice and effectiveness of tele-education in epilepsy training in China and abroad, focusing on the Project ECHO (Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes) in the USA, the International League Against Epilepsy (ILAE)Academy online learning platform of theILAE, and the "Galaxy Program", the "BeiDou Program", and the standardized online EEG training program led by the China Association Against Epilepsy (CAAE). We further discuss the value, limitations, and future directions of tele-education in promoting the homogenization of epilepsy care in China, aiming to provide a reference for the further development of tele-education in epilepsy care.

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13.	Samia P, Sahu JK, Ali A, et al. Telemedicine for Individuals with epilepsy: Recommendations from the International League Against Epilepsy Telemedicine Task Force[J]. Seizure, 2023, 106: 85-91.
14.	Blümcke I, Arzimanoglou A, Beniczky S, et al. Roadmap for a competency-based educational curriculum in epileptology: report of the Epilepsy Education Task Force of the International League Against Epilepsy[J]. Epileptic Disord Int Epilepsy J Videotape, 2019, 21(2): 129-140.
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16.	Hézser-v. Wehrs V. Le programme de l’éducation à distance VIREPA [J]. North Afr Middle East Epilepsy J, 2012, 1(1): 10 .
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21.	Sahu JK, Coan AC, Chan J, Jocic-Jakubi B, Dhir P, Niveditha M, et al. Applications and impact of telemedicine for persons with epilepsy: a scoping review[J]. Seizure, 2026, 136: 107–116.
22.	Lu L, Xiong W, Lin Y, Koubeissi MZ, Hogan RE, Zhou D. National strategies on bridging gaps and health equity in epilepsy care[J]. Epilepsy Curr, 2026: 15357597261428841.

1. Ding D, Zhou D, Sander JW, et al. Epilepsy in China: major progress in the past two decades[J]. Lancet Neurol, 2021, 20(4): 316-326.
2. Wang WZ, Wu JZ, Wang DS, et al. The prevalence and treatment gap in epilepsy in China: an ILAE/IBE/WHO study[J]. Neurology, 2003, 60(9): 1544-1555.
3. World Health Organization. Intersectoral global action plan on epilepsy and other neurological disorders 2022–2031. Geneva, 2023.
4. Arora S, Thornton K, Murata G, et al. Outcomes of treatment for hepatitis C virus infection by primary care providers[J]. N Engl J Med, 2011, 364(23): 2199-2207.
5. Blümcke I, Biesel E, Wiebe S, et al. Continuing medical education in epileptology: The Level 1-2-3 experience of the ILAE academy[J]. Epileptic Disord, 2025, 27(5): 707-717.
6. Frenk J, Chen L, Bhutta ZA, et al. Health professionals for a new century: transforming education to strengthen health systems in an interdependent world[J]. Lancet Lond Engl, 2010, 376(9756): 1923-1958.
7. Cook DA, Levinson AJ, Garside S, et al. Internet-based learning in the health professions: a meta-analysis[J]. JAMA, 2008, 300(10): 1181-1196.
8. Mazurek MO, Parker RA, Chan J, et al. Effectiveness of the extension for community health outcomes model as applied to primary care for autism: a partial stepped-wedge randomized clinical trial[J]. JAMA Pediatr, 2020, 174(5): e196306.
9. Fokom Domgue J, Pande M, Yu R, et al. Development, implementation, and evaluation of a distance learning and telementoring program for cervical cancer prevention in cameroon[J]. JAMA Netw Open, 2022, 5(11): e2240801.
10. Bikinesi L, O’Bryan G, Roscoe C, et al. Implementation and evaluation of a project ECHO telementoring program for the Namibian HIV workforce[J]. Hum Resour Health, 2020, 18(1): 61.
11. McDonald SB, Privitera M, Kakacek J, et al. Developing epilepsy training capacity for primary care providers using the project ECHO telementoring model[J]. Epilepsy Behav, 2021, 116: 107789.
12. Schultz RJ, Shafer PO, Owens S, et al. Project ECHO telementoring program in epilepsy for school nurses[J]. Epilepsy Behav, 2023, 140: 109114.
13. Samia P, Sahu JK, Ali A, et al. Telemedicine for Individuals with epilepsy: Recommendations from the International League Against Epilepsy Telemedicine Task Force[J]. Seizure, 2023, 106: 85-91.
14. Blümcke I, Arzimanoglou A, Beniczky S, et al. Roadmap for a competency-based educational curriculum in epileptology: report of the Epilepsy Education Task Force of the International League Against Epilepsy[J]. Epileptic Disord Int Epilepsy J Videotape, 2019, 21(2): 129-140.
15. Blümcke I, Biesel E, Bedenlier S, et al. A structured, blended learning program towards proficiency in epileptology: the launch of the ILAE Academy Level 2 Program[J]. Epileptic Disord Int Epilepsy J Videotape, 2022, 24(5): 737-750.
16. Hézser-v. Wehrs V. Le programme de l’éducation à distance VIREPA [J]. North Afr Middle East Epilepsy J, 2012, 1(1): 10 .
17. Neshige S, Ono N, Iryo T, et al. Nationwide online EEG education during coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic[J]. Clin Neurophysiol Off J Int Fed Clin Neurophysiol, 2021, 132(11): 2763-2765.
18. D’Onofrio G, Ramachandran Nair R, Reid AY, Kobayashi E, Jones K, Bui E, et al. Fostering Education in Epilepsy: A Canadian League Against Epilepsy Teaching Initiative[J]. Can J Neurol Sci J Can Sci Neurol, 2025, 52(1): 135–140.
19. Li S, Wang Y, Wang W, Zhou D, Zhang H, Duan L, et al. The National Comprehensive Governance for epilepsy prevention and control in China[J]. Epilepsia Open, 2022, 7(1): 27–35.
20. Schelke MW. Face to Face - A Neurologist’s Perspective on Teleeducation[J]. N Engl J Med, 2024, 391(24): 2286–2287.
21. Sahu JK, Coan AC, Chan J, Jocic-Jakubi B, Dhir P, Niveditha M, et al. Applications and impact of telemedicine for persons with epilepsy: a scoping review[J]. Seizure, 2026, 136: 107–116.
22. Lu L, Xiong W, Lin Y, Koubeissi MZ, Hogan RE, Zhou D. National strategies on bridging gaps and health equity in epilepsy care[J]. Epilepsy Curr, 2026: 15357597261428841.

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