Perceptions and needs of patients with migraine: a focus group study.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE-This study's purpose was to identify the areas that people find most difficult in living with migraines and, in that regard, what kinds of assistance would be most helpful to them and to other people who have migraine headaches.STUDY DESIGN-Four focus groups, each consisting of 4 to 8 participants, were held. Discussions, which were recorded and organized according to category and theme, focused on problems in living with migraines and effective treatment of migraines.POPULATION-Participants were 24 people who had been experiencing 1 to 2 migraines a month, each lasting 1 to 2 days, for at least 6 months. RESULTS-Five themes emerged:(1) impact on family, (2) misunderstanding by others, (3) effect on work, (4) physician care issues, and (5) issues related to medical insurance and drug companies. A majority of participants identified early treatment as the most important consideration for new migraine sufferers. Many participants preferred to have a relationship with their physicians in which they developed a treatment plan together rather than receiving generic educational materials. CONCLUSIONS-Resultssuggest that patients are interested in understanding their migraines and securing relevant information in addition to obtaining pain relief. Patients desired collaborative relationships with their physicians and a team approach to treatment. Suggestions for physicians who treat patients who have migraines are reviewed. KeywordsMigraine; focus groups; physician-patient relations KEY POINTS FOR CLINICIANS• Migraine sufferers said they would prefer a collaborative relationship with their physician and a team approach to therapy.• Patients reported that they often felt dismissed by their physicians, frustrated by insurance and drug companies, and misunderstood by their loved ones.

The patients’ perceptions of migraine and chronic daily headache: a qualitative study

“…Impact emerged as a relative concept in relation to other diseases, pain severity and headache frequency, as well as social and work commitments. In terms of aspects of life affected, a focus group study in the US revealed the areas of life that migraine patients perceive as most problematic in living with their headaches [12]. The participants described effects on social functioning, family functioning, work and relationships.…”

“…A focus group study in the US found that migraine patients were interested in understanding their condition and in securing relevant information about migraines, as well as obtaining pain relief. Furthermore, the patients desired collaborative relationships and wanted a team approach to treatment that involved both patient and doctor [12].…”

In-office Discussions of Migraine: Results from the American Migraine Communication Study

“…The diagnosis of the migraine patient is based solely on the medical history; neuroimaging and laboratory studies serve to exclude other causes but do not provide positive evidence in support of a migraine diagnosis 6 . Assessment of headache frequency, severity, and associated impairment are major determinants of optimal treatment and can be assessed only through dialogue [7][8][9][10][11] . The American Migraine Prevalence and Prevention Study (AMPPS) demonstrated that 39% of patients suffering from migraine in the community are prevention candidates based on an algorithm using two headache history-derived parameters: headache days per month and headache-related , this information influences HCPs' assessment of headache severity and alters prescribing behavior.…”

Prophylactic treatment of migraine by GPs: a qualitative study

“…Reports have included patients' perceptions of migraine and chronic daily headache, 32,33 the needs of patients with migraine, 34,35 migraine-related decision making, 36-38 the burden of migraine and impact on qualityof-life, 39,40 patients' experience, and the expectations of management. 16,41,42 One of these latter studies addressed prophylaxis, 42 but the setting was a specialised care clinic and the study aim was different from that of the present study.…”