Minimal clinically important change on the Headache Impact Test-6 questionnaire in patients with chronic tension-type headache.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the minimal clinically important change (MCIC) in Headache Impact Test-6 (HIT-6) score in patients with chronic tension-type headache (CTTH).


METHODS
The HIT-6 was administered at baseline and at 8 weeks follow-up in a cohort of 186 participants with CTTH who received manual therapy or usual care by their general practitioner. An anchor-based method was used to determine the MCIC, with the external criterion (anchor) being based on general perceived improvement ('much improved or very much improved' on a 7-point Likert scale) in combination with 50% reduction in headache days. Using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis we defined an optimal cut-off score discriminating between improved and not improved participants.


RESULTS
The optimal cut-off point for the MCIC for the HIT-6 was -8 points, on a total scale range of 42 points.


CONCLUSIONS
A clinically relevant improvement in patients with CTTH is reflected by a decrease of at least 8 points on the HIT-6.
Health Care Center Haarlemmermeer, Hoofddorp, the Netherlands. r.castien@vumc.nl
René F
RF
Castien
Annette H
AH
Blankenstein
Daniëlle A W M van der
DA
Windt
Joost
J
Dekker
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005260:Female; D020773:Headache Disorders / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D026201:Musculoskeletal Manipulations; D012372:ROC Curve; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires / Q000592:standards*; D018781:Tension-Type Headache / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000628:therapy; D055815:Young Adult