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Migraine Therapy: Development and Testing of a Patient Preference Questionnaire
Author(s) -
Caro Graciela,
Caro J. Jaime,
O'Brien Judith A.,
Anton Susan,
Jackson Joseph
Publication year - 1998
Publication title -
headache: the journal of head and face pain
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.14
H-Index - 119
eISSN - 1526-4610
pISSN - 0017-8748
DOI - 10.1046/j.1526-4610.1998.3808602.x
Subject(s) - migraine , preference , demographics , medicine , physical therapy , test (biology) , clinical psychology , psychiatry , paleontology , demography , sociology , economics , biology , microeconomics
Objectives.—To develop and test a patient preference questionnaire in migraine. Methods.—A user‐friendly, self‐administered questionnaire was developed to assess the relative importance of aspects of migraine therapy to patients. It was tested in a convenience sample of 66 migraineurs. The questionnaire has five sections: patient preference, migraine history, demographics, usual behavior during an attack, and migraine impact on cognition and functionality. It employs a special reverse‐ranking technique to quantify preferences. Results.—Sixty‐six migraineurs participated: 86% were women, 53% had not consulted their doctor about migraine in the previous year; and only 51% took prescribed medication, the majority (52%) at the start of a migraine. “A medication that can be taken any time during a migraine attack” was ranked most important by 20% of the migraineurs, one that decreases pain from the unbearable level in 30 minutes by 17%, and one that relieves pain completely within 2 hours by 15%. Not being able to think or concentrate with severe symptoms was reported by 71%. Optional activities were impeded by migraine in 83% of subjects, but required activities in only 60%. Conclusions.—The patient preference questionnaire is readily completed by subjects and reveals that the dimensions of relief preferred by patients can be addressed by a self‐report questionnaire.