Prophylaxis and education for migraine and tension type headache: a perception of the effectiveness of the practices of primary health physicians

• Published in: Acta Neurológica Colombiana 2019-01, Vol.35 (4), p.186
• Main Authors: Restrepo Escobar, Jorge Alberto, Bueno, Diego Severiche, Vergara, Hernán, Coral, Paola, Romero, Diana, Edel, Tammy, Castañeda, Catalina
• Format: Article
• Language: Spanish
• Subjects: Disease prevention; Education; Headaches; Migraine; Patients; Physicians; Primary care
• ISSN: 0120-8748; 2422-4022
• DOI: 10.22379/24224022266

INTRODUCTION:Migraine and tension type headache are the most frequent primary headaches in the medical practice; the clinical improvement of the patients is related to the education carry out by his physician and the prescription of prophylactic treatments. Migraine and tension-type headache are the most frequent primary headaches in the medical office; the clinical improvement of the patients is related to the education provided and the prescription of prophylactic treatments by their treating doctors.OBJECTIVE:To determine the frequency of prescription of prophylactic treatment and of educational explanations to the patient with primary headache by primary care physicians, and the possible factors associated with them.MATERIALS AND METHODS:Cross-sectional study with 152 patients that have Migraine or Tensional Headache according to the ICHD criteria and that had an indication for prophylactic treatment according to the Canadian guidelines for the prophylaxis management of patients with migraine, which were attended by primary care physicians. Application of a questionnaire to establish the type of practices carried out by professionals; an univariate and bivariate analysis was performed.RESULTS:56 °% of the patients never received an educational explanation about their disease, 70 °% had never been referred to a neurology consultation previously, and 23 % had been prescribed prophylactic treatment. 44 °% answered not knowing about the origin of the headache and found a significant association between the educational level of the patient and the fact that they offered educational explanation.CONCLUSION:The frequency of formulation of pharmacological prophylaxis and the performance of educational explanations to the patient by the Primary Care Physician was very low; This may be related to a lack of knowledge of management protocols in primary headache and to flaws in the clinical skills previously obtained in undergraduate training.