"You will eat shoe polish if you think it would help"-Familiar and lesser-known themes identified from mixed-methods analysis of a cluster headache survey.
Headache
; 61(2): 318-328, 2021 02.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-33502769
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE:
To characterize patient-reported ideas and concerns about cluster headache, treatment options, and management strategies.BACKGROUND:
Cluster headache patients experience severe pain and often suffer additional consequences from their disease. Patients have identified methods to cope with and combat cluster headache that are not widely known.METHODS:
Secondary analysis was performed using deidentified data from the online Clusterbusters Medication Use survey, wherein 10 questions allowed for freely written comments. Using mixed-methods techniques, neurologists with expertise in headache medicine identified themes from these comments. Subgroup analysis sought to identify variables associated with specific themes.RESULTS:
Among 2274 free-text responses from 493 adult participants, 23 themes were identified. Themes commonly discussed in the literature included such topics as "nothing worked" (24.7%, 122/493), "side effects" (12.8%, 63/493), and difficulties with "access/cost" (2.4%, 12/493). Less widely recognized themes included the use of "illicit substances" (35.5%, 175/493) and "vitamins/supplements" (12.2%, 60/493) in disease management. Lesser-known themes included "coffee" (5.3%, 26/493) and "exercise/physical activity" (4.7%, 23/493). Using strict significance criteria, no subgroup was associated with any theme. Several poignant quotes highlighted patient thoughts and experiences.CONCLUSIONS:
This mixed-methods analysis identified challenges endured by cluster headache patients, as well as a variety of patient-directed disease management approaches. The volunteered information spotlights pharmacological, physiological, and psychological aspects of cluster headache that warrant further exploratory and interventional investigation.Palavras-chave
Texto completo:
1
Coleções:
01-internacional
Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Conhecimentos, Atitudes e Prática em Saúde
/
Cefaleia Histamínica
/
Gerenciamento Clínico
Tipo de estudo:
Prognostic_studies
/
Qualitative_research
Limite:
Adult
/
Humans
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Headache
Ano de publicação:
2021
Tipo de documento:
Article
País de afiliação:
Estados Unidos