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Headache in Medical Residents: A Cross‐Sectional Web‐Based Survey
Author(s) -
Mélo Silva Júnior Mário Luciano,
Melo Thayanara Silva,
Sousa Menezes Neila Clediane,
Valença Marcelo Moraes,
Sampaio RochaFilho Pedro Augusto
Publication year - 2020
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.14000
Subject(s) - headaches , somnolence , migraine , anxiety , medicine , depression (economics) , cross sectional study , emotional exhaustion , burnout , psychiatry , physical therapy , clinical psychology , adverse effect , pathology , economics , macroeconomics
Background Although a common complaint and related to factors frequently present in medical residency such as psychological distress, depression, and anxiety, headache is an issue poorly explored among medical residents. Methods This was a cross‐sectional study enrolling medical residents from all geographic regions of Brazil. We applied an online structured survey with demographic and residency program‐related questions, as well as validated tools to assess burnout, diurnal somnolence, anxiety, depression, and migraine. Results The link to the survey received 1989 clicks, of which 1421 individuals completed the questionnaire (71.4% of all clicks). The prevalence of at least 1 headache attack in the last 3 months was 1236/1419 (87.1%); migraine occurred in 400/1419 (28.2%). Frequent headache attacks (headaches occurring daily or often) were associated with female sex (OR = 1.80 [95%CI = 1.36‐2.37]), substantial weight gain (1.93 [1.38‐2.70]), migraine (5.49 [4.16‐7.24]), anxiety (1.45 [1.06‐1.98]), depression (1.98 [1.47‐2.67]), emotional exhaustion domain of burnout (1.49 [1.09‐2.04]), and diurnal somnolence symptoms (1.32 [1.00‐1.76]). Headaches with functional impact were associated with female sex (1.39 [1.10‐1.74]), clinical training areas (1.32 [1.06‐1.65]), anxiety (1.74 [1.38‐2.21]), an unsatisfactory work‐life balance (1.57 [1.17‐2.09]), the emotional exhaustion component of burnout (1.49 [1.14‐1.94]), and an unsatisfactory subjective learning curve (1.30 [1.02‐1.67]). Migraine was associated with female sex (3.10 [2.34‐4.13]), anxiety (2.53 [1.94‐3.31]), more than 60 hours duty‐hours in residency (1.66 [1.29‐2.15]), psychological abuse from patients (1.42 [1.06‐1.90]) and a clinical training area (1.34 [1.04‐1.73]). Conclusion Headaches among medical residents are frequent and are related not only to depression, anxiety, burnout, and diurnal somnolence, but also to aspects closely related to residency training such as the occurrence of mistreatment, longer duty‐hours, a poor work‐life balance, and an unsatisfactory learning curve.