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.
Diamond Headache Clinic Inpatient Unit, St. Joseph Hospital, Resurrection Health Care, Chicago, Illinois, USA.
Richard G
RG
Wenzel
Jon C
JC
Schommer
Thomas G
TG
Marks
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