Long-term effects of a sensitization campaign on migraine: the Casilino study

• Published in: Journal of headache and pain 2010-04, Vol.11 (2), p.129
• Main Authors: Petolicchio, B, Di Clemente, L, Altieri, M, Vicenzini, E, Lenzi, G L, Di Piero, Vittorio
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Campaigns; Health education; Migraine
• ISSN: 1129-2369; 1129-2377
• DOI: 10.1007/s10194-009-0183-6

In 2003, we conducted a sensitization campaign on migraine in the Casilino district of Rome, by sending a letter with the ID Migraine test to all the households and placing posters in the GPs' waiting room. Out of 195 headache patients recruited, 92% had migraine while 73% had never consulted a physician for headache. The aim of this study was to evaluate the long-term impact of this campaign. The follow-up was performed by a telephone interview. The questionnaire considered the characteristics of headache, quality of life, preventive and acute treatments, drug efficacy, comorbidity and subjective usefulness of the campaign. Of the 179 migraineurs, 90.5% (mean age 40.7 ± 16.5, 139 females) were included in the follow-up. An improvement was observed in mean pain intensity (-13.9%; p < 0.0001) and mean HIT-6 score (-6.1%; p = 0.0003). The campaign was considered to be useful by 63.6% of cases, while 66.1% reported an improvement in their clinical status. Improved patients showed a decreased mean number of days with headache per month (-51.7%; p < 0.0001), pain intensity (-21.8%; p < 0.0001), headache duration (-18.1%; p = 0.0008) and HIT-6 score (-11.7%; p < 0.0001). Our data suggest that the effects of a "single shot" campaign are beneficial not only in a short-term perspective, but even in the long term. Moreover, the lack of benefit in more severe cases suggests that such patients should not be treated by GPs alone: patients in whom the HIT-6 score, frequency, severity or duration of headache worsen should be promptly referred to the headache clinic. [PUBLICATION ABSTRACT]