Morbidity and medication preferences of individuals with headache presenting to a community pharmacy.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the degree of debilitation and the treatment views of individuals with headache presenting to a community pharmacy.


BACKGROUND
Migraine and chronic daily headache are common poorly managed illnesses. Pharmacists recommend an over-the-counter "headache product" to customers more than 53 000 times daily, thus they are well positioned to help those with headache.


METHODS
Pilot project of 22 self-administered surveys of individuals presenting to a community pharmacy with a complaint of headache.


RESULTS
Thirteen persons had Migraine Disability Assessment scores of grade III or grade IV. Of the sample population, a substantial minority (41%) did not believe their headaches could be effectively managed with over-the-counter medications, 72% did not feel over-the-counter agents were safer than prescription products, 96% did not indicate that over-the-counter drugs were more effective than prescription drugs, and 50% disagreed that a physician's evaluation was not necessary. Only half of the population was satisfied with their current therapy, and individuals overwhelmingly (91%) wished they could prevent their headaches.


CONCLUSIONS
The majority of individuals with headache presenting to a community pharmacy had high levels of morbidity and were in need of education regarding the proper role of over-the-counter medications, the advantages of prescription agents, and the benefits of a physician's referral. These preliminary results indicate that community pharmacies are potentially important locations for identification, education, and referral of individuals with headache.
Wenzel
Richard G
RG
Diamond Headache Clinic Inpatient Unit, St. Joseph Hospital, Resurrection Health Care, Chicago, Illinois, USA.
Schommer
Jon C
JC
Marks
Thomas G
TG
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000700:Analgesics / Q000145:classification / Q000592:standards / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011307:Drug Prescriptions / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006261:Headache / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007087:Illinois; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008881:Migraine Disorders / Q000145:classification / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D004366:Nonprescription Drugs / Q000592:standards / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D017060:Patient Satisfaction / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010594:Pharmacies; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012017:Referral and Consultation
D000700:Analgesics; D004366:Nonprescription Drugs