Cookies on this website

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you click 'Accept all cookies' we'll assume that you are happy to receive all cookies and you won't see this message again. If you click 'Reject all non-essential cookies' only necessary cookies providing core functionality such as security, network management, and accessibility will be enabled. Click 'Find out more' for information on how to change your cookie settings.

Aims and objectivesThe aim of this paper is to outline the classifications of migraine and chronic daily headaches (i.e. headaches occurring at more than 15 days per month) and briefly describe their epidemiology and management. After outlining the patients' management behaviours, this review paper discuss the implications for primary care practitioners, including general practitioners and nurses. Finally the paper sets out current resources for headache education for healthcare practitioners.BackgroundThere is a scarcity of recent literature about migraine and chronic daily headache in primary care and of the evidence base for best practice. Patients with migraine and headache may see a variety of healthcare professionals and may not always be accessing the best sources of help.MethodsVarious databases were searched, such as CINAHL, Cochrane, Medline, MedlinePubmed and the BMJ. In addition, manual searches were conducted by following on cited references from papers read.ResultsThe results of the literature reviews were critically read and evaluated by the team and the results are discussed in the critical review presented in this paper.Relevance to clinical practiceThe paper proposes multidisciplinary working in relation to migraine and headache management in primary healthcare, using an evidence-based approach that stresses the importance of making the correct diagnosis, patient focused management and appropriate referrals to appropriate agencies to maximize benefits for patients.

Original publication

DOI

10.1111/j.1365-2702.2006.01562.x

Type

Journal article

Journal

Journal of clinical nursing

Publication Date

07/2007

Volume

16

Pages

159 - 167

Addresses

European Institute of Health and Medical Sciences, Duke of Kent Building, University of Surrey, Guildford, Surrey, UK.

Keywords

Humans, Headache Disorders, Chronic Disease, Diagnosis, Differential, Community Health Nursing, Primary Health Care, Female, Male, Migraine Disorders, Patient Education as Topic