title: The patients' perceptions of migraine and chronic daily headache: a qualitative study.
abstract: This study aimed to gain insight into the management of migraine and chronic daily headache (CDH) from the patients' perspective. This article outlines the patients' perceptions of migraine and chronic daily headache. Thirteen semi-structured interviews were carried out with patients suffering from IHS migraine. Five patients, due to their headache frequency of more than 15 headache days per month, were classed as CDH patients. The data were transcribed verbatim and analysed in accordance with the grounded theory methodology. The main themes were: headaches, impact and headaches related to health issues. The theme 'headaches' was sub-divided into 'their pain and symptoms', 'differentiating between their headaches' and 'perceptions of headaches as barriers and facilitators to management'. The patients' perceptions of migraine and CDH were sometimes conflicting and influenced the patients' management behaviours. The qualitative methodology may help to inform doctors, other healthcare professionals and headache researchers about the patients' perspective and possibly develop future headache research, care and education.
authors.affiliation: European Institute of Health and Medical Sciences, Duke of Kent Building, University of Surrey, Guildford, Surrey GU2 7TE, UK.
authors.forename: Michele
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Peters
authors.forename: Huda
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Huijer Abu-Saad
authors.forename: Vasso
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Vydelingum
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dowson
authors.forename: Margaret
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Murphy
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D001294:Attitude to Health; D005260:Female; D020773:Headache Disorders / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008881:Migraine Disorders / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D010348:Patient Care Team / Q000592:standards; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000592:standards; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D012803:Sick Role; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires