title: The McMaster Pediatric Migraine Questionnaire: a prospective validation study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Migraine affects approximately 4%-11% of elementary school children; yet reaching a diagnosis in this age group can be challenging. The goal of this study was to develop a screening migraine questionnaire that could be easily implemented by a general pediatrician and validate its use in diagnosing migraine in children 5-12 years old.
  
  
  METHODS
  A questionnaire, the McMaster Migraine Tool, was developed using the International Classification of Headache Disorders-II criteria for migraine. The validity of the questionnaire was assessed by comparing the diagnosis based on the results of the questionnaire compared with the diagnosis made by a pediatric neurologist.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The questionnaire was used to assess a cohort of 69 children referred to the Pediatric Neurology Clinic for headache. The sensitivity and specificity of the McMaster Migraine Tool were determined to be 84% and 69%, respectively. Families graded its ease of use to be 9 of 10 (10 being easy to use).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The McMaster Migraine Tool may be useful in diagnosing migraine in 5-12-year-old children, as it is readily completed and regarded as easy to use. Application of this tool could lead to expedited diagnosis and management of migraine.
authors.affiliation: Division of Pediatric Neurology, Department of Pediatrics, McMaster Children's Hospital, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. Electronic address: robyn.whitney@medportal.ca.
authors.forename: Robyn
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Whitney
authors.affiliation: Division of Pediatric Neurology, Department of Pediatrics, McMaster Children's Hospital, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Oksana
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Borys
authors.affiliation: Division of Pediatric Neurology, Department of Pediatrics, McMaster Children's Hospital, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: David J A
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Callen
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, McMaster Children's Hospital, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Latchman
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008881:Migraine Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis*; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D010372:Pediatrics; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: children; diagnosis; migraine; questionnaire; sensitivity; specificity; validation