Migraine practice patterns among neurologists.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the attitudes, knowledge, and practice patterns of US neurologists regarding migraine management relative to the US Headache Consortium Guidelines (the Guidelines).


METHODS
Two samples of 600 neurologists each were selected from the American Academy of Neurology membership database. The first group received a Migraine Attitudes, Knowledge, and Practice Patterns (MKAPP) Survey. The second group received a Clinical Vignette (CV) Survey, presenting two patient histories and correspondent questions.


RESULTS
The MKAPP Survey showed that most neurologists felt that migraine was primarily a disease of the brain with a well-established neurobiological basis (69%) and an important part of their practice (60%). Most (53%) indicated that they routinely used neuroimaging in evaluating severe headache, an approach not recommended by the Guidelines. Most favored acute treatment limits, but 36% did not agree with the Guidelines that acute treatment should be limited to 2 or 3 days/week. In the CV Survey, for vignette 1, most (91%) correctly diagnosed migraine, 31% requested neuroimaging in the absence of indications, 64% appropriately recommended a triptan, and 45% recommended a preventive medication in the absence of indications. For vignette 2, 78% diagnosed migraine, 71% appropriately ordered neuroimaging, 80% appropriately recommended a preventive medication, and 38% prescribed a triptan in face of clear contraindication.


CONCLUSIONS
Educational initiatives aiming to increase the awareness of the Guidelines among neurologists should highlight the full range of migraine symptoms that support the diagnosis, appropriate use of neuroimaging, indications for preventive treatments, issues of triptan cardiovascular safety, and preventing rebound headaches.
Lipton
R B
RB
Department of Neurology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY 10461, USA. Rlipton@aecom.yu.edu
Bigal
M E
ME
Rush
S R
SR
Yenkosky
J P
JP
Liberman
J N
JN
Bartleson
J D
JD
Silberstein
S D
SD
D000328:Adult; D003625:Data Collection; D004351:Drug Resistance; D005260:Female; D020773:Headache Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000150:complications; D006973:Hypertension / Q000150:complications; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008881:Migraine Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy*; D020326:Migraine without Aura / Q000188:drug therapy; D009462:Neurology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians' / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014481:United States