Espen Saxhaug Kristoffersen1,2,3, Kashif Waqar Faiz1,4, Bendik Slagsvold Winsvold3,5. 1. Department of Neurology, Akershus University Hospital, Lørenskog, Norway. 2. Department of General Practice, HELSAM, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway. 3. FORMI, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway. 4. Research Centre, Akershus University Hospital, Lørenskog, Norway. 5. Department of Research, Innovation and Education, Division of Clinical Neuroscience, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: In Norway, as in most other countries, the training program for clinical neurology has no mandatory headache program. Knowledge in headache management must therefore be acquired during everyday clinical training. The objectives of this study were to investigate neurology residents' knowledge of headache. METHODS: A questionnaire survey was undertaken among neurology residents in Norway. RESULTS: All 17 neurological departments in Norway participated, and 143 residents responded (86%). Sixty percent were women, mean age was 32.5 years, and the respondents had an average of 28 months clinical training in neurology. Fifty-six percent knew the approximate prevalence of migraine and chronic headache. Thirty-seven percent asked their patients about disability, quality of life, and social functioning at every consultation. Further, 72% would prescribe prophylaxis for chronic tension-type headache and 97% for very frequent migraine. One third wrongly stated that use of the most common headache prophylactics could lead to medication-overuse headache. Headache diaries were used regularly by 63% for diagnostic purposes, and 73% requested an MRI for all long-lasting headaches referred to neurological outpatient clinics. CONCLUSION: Although a major public health problem, headache knowledge is moderate at best, and its management clearly varies. There is an unmet need for a better and more structured headache training program in Norway.
BACKGROUND: In Norway, as in most other countries, the training program for clinical neurology has no mandatory headache program. Knowledge in headache management must therefore be acquired during everyday clinical training. The objectives of this study were to investigate neurology residents' knowledge of headache. METHODS: A questionnaire survey was undertaken among neurology residents in Norway. RESULTS: All 17 neurological departments in Norway participated, and 143 residents responded (86%). Sixty percent were women, mean age was 32.5 years, and the respondents had an average of 28 months clinical training in neurology. Fifty-six percent knew the approximate prevalence of migraine and chronic headache. Thirty-seven percent asked their patients about disability, quality of life, and social functioning at every consultation. Further, 72% would prescribe prophylaxis for chronic tension-type headache and 97% for very frequent migraine. One third wrongly stated that use of the most common headache prophylactics could lead to medication-overuse headache. Headache diaries were used regularly by 63% for diagnostic purposes, and 73% requested an MRI for all long-lasting headaches referred to neurological outpatient clinics. CONCLUSION: Although a major public health problem, headache knowledge is moderate at best, and its management clearly varies. There is an unmet need for a better and more structured headache training program in Norway.
Authors: Anne Thiele; Sebastian Strauß; Anselm Angermaier; Lara Klehr; Luise Bartsch; Martin Kronenbuerger; Sein Schmidt; Robert Fleischmann Journal: Brain Sci Date: 2021-06-24