[Validity and reliability of the migraine self-questionnaire Alcoi-1995].
BACKGROUND
In epidemiological investigation valid, reliable means of diagnosing the illnesses studies are essential.


OBJECTIVE
To validate the self-questionnaire 'Alcoi 1995' for the diagnosis of migraine.


METHODS
We used the questionnaire Alcoi-1992 (which had been validated previously) to find the prevalence of migraine in homogeneous populations. After this, we selected the significant items to obtain a shorter, more specific questionnaire for diagnosis of migraine, which we called 'Alcoi 1995'. We selected a population of patients and healthy volunteers. The diagnosis of migraine (neurologist and self-questionnaire) was made on criteria of the International Headache Society (IHS, 1988).


RESULTS
There were 71 persons included in the study, 40 patients (5 men and 35 women those average age was 39.7 +/- 14.4 years) and 31 healthy volunteers (15 men and 16 women with an average age of 36 +/- 14.4). The sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive value, and the Kappa concordance index for migraine (100%, 100%, 100%, 100% and 1); migraine with no aura (75%, 100%, 100%, 86% and 0.79) and migraine with a typical aura (100%, 88%, 63%, 100% and 0.71) were calculated.


CONCLUSIONS
Our results show a high degree of validity and reliability when the self-questionnaire is used for the diagnosis of migraine. It is a tool for use in epidemiological studies which is quick and easy to use, and is cheap.
Montiel
I
I
Unidad de Cefaleas, Servicia de Neurologia, Hospital General y Universitario de Alicante, España.
Muñiz
R
R
Asensio
M
M
Ruiz
C
C
Díaz-Marín
C
C
Matías-Guiu
J
J
D000328:Adult; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008881:Migraine Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012647:Self-Assessment; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires