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The Experience of Headaches in Health Care Workers: Opportunity for Care Improvement
Author(s) -
Hughes Mary D.,
Wu Jun,
Williams Terry C.,
Loberger Jeremy M.,
Hudson Matthew F.,
Burdine Joselyn R.,
Wagner Peggy J.
Publication year - 2013
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 - 10.1111/head.12069
Subject(s) - headaches , medicine , migraine , quality of life (healthcare) , medical prescription , health care , physical therapy , family medicine , psychiatry , nursing , economics , economic growth
Objective/Background This study assessed the relationship between health care workers' self‐reported experience of headaches/migraines, their overall quality of life, and treatment outcomes. Methods The study sample consisted of adults employed by a self‐insured hospital system located in the S outheast U nited S tates. Study participants responded to a web‐based survey disseminated via work email accounts. The survey measured headache medication use, health care service utilization, and impacts on quality of life and treatment optimization using standardized instruments. Results We received responses from 2453 employees (response rate 33.8%), of which 84.4% reported headaches, suggesting that those with headaches were more likely to complete the survey. Forty percent of respondents reported mild to severe disability due to headaches, and approximately 65% used prescription or over‐the‐counter medications to treat headaches. Approximately 45% of participants taking headache medications reported unsatisfactory treatment. Among all respondents, those with mild, moderate, or severe migraine disability were 2.35, 1.7, or 2.08 times more likely to take headache medications than those with little or no migraine disability. Among those taking headache medications for treatment, respondents with nonclinical job titles, presenting better physical health status, or reporting little or no migraine disability were more likely to achieve treatment optimization. Conclusions Recognizing the potential over response by employees who have headaches, our study remains suggestive of a care improvement opportunity in the health care workforce.