Headache from the doctors' perspective.
BACKGROUND
General practitioners (GPs) and neurologists are involved in treating headache patients in Portugal. Having migraine themselves might influence the way they perceive and treat migraine patients.


OBJECTIVE
To identify clinicians' perceptions about migraine, their own headache status and management of their own migraine.


METHODS
An observational cross-sectional survey of GPs and neurologists using anonymous questionnaires including demographic data, headache and migraine status and migraine perception questions.


RESULTS
Of 348 respondent physicians, 20% were neurologists and 53% were females with an average age of 48 years. The majority had an interest in migraine and considered it disabling (93%), although 65-85% reported management difficulties, GPs more often than neurologists. Satisfaction with current treatment options was high (69-79%). 63 physicians suffered from migraine and 81% felt it influenced their perception of the disease. Portuguese physicians preferentially treat their own migraines with NSAIDs (33%), analgesics (29%) and triptans (20%).


CONCLUSIONS
Portuguese physicians treating migraine patients have realistic perceptions about the disease and those with migraine feel their perception is influenced by their experience. Although reporting management difficulties, the majority of physicians are satisfied with current treatment options for migraine.
Department of Clinical Neurosciences (UNIC), Instituto de Medicina Molecular (IMM), Faculdade de Medicina de Lisboa, Headache Center, Hospital da Luz, Lisbon, Portugal.
Raquel
R
Gil-Gouveia
D000328:Adult; D000700:Analgesics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006261:Headache / Q000188:drug therapy; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010820:Physicians / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011174:Portugal
D000700:Analgesics