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- Title
Brief Communication Morbidity and Medication Preferences of Individuals With Headache Presenting to a Community Pharmacy.
- Authors
Wenzel, Richard G.; Schommer, Jon C.; Marks, Thomas G.
- Abstract
Objective.—To assess the degree of debilitation and the treatment views of individuals with headache presenting to a community pharmacy. Background.—Migraine and chronic daily headache are common poorly managed illnesses. Pharmacists recommend an over-the-counter “headache product” to customers more than 53 000 times daily, thus they are well positioned to help those with headache. Design.—Pilot project of 22 self-administered surveys of individuals presenting to a community pharmacy with a complaint of headache. Results.—Thirteen persons had Migraine Disability Assessment scores of grade III or grade IV. Of the sample population, a substantial minority (41%) did not believe their headaches could be effectively managed with over-the-counter medications, 72% did not feel over-the-counter agents were safer than prescription products, 96% did not indicate that over-the-counter drugs were more effective than prescription drugs, and 50% disagreed that a physician's evaluation was not necessary. Only half of the population was satisfied with their current therapy, and individuals overwhelmingly (91%) wished they could prevent their headaches. Conclusion.—The majority of individuals with headache presenting to a community pharmacy had high levels of morbidity and were in need of education regarding the proper role of over-the-counter medications, the advantages of prescription agents, and the benefits of a physician's referral. These preliminary results indicate that community pharmacies are potentially important locations for identification, education, and referral of individuals with headache.
- Subjects
HEADACHE; NONPRESCRIPTION drugs; PHARMACY; MIGRAINE
- Publication
Headache: The Journal of Head & Face Pain, 2004, Vol 44, Issue 1, p90
- ISSN
0017-8748
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1111/j.1526-4610.2004.04016.x