Patient-completed online “follow-up form” to assess continuation of anti-CGRP(r) antibody therapy in patients with chronic migraine: A pilot study

Background

The introduction of new drugs that target the Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide (CGRP) system has provided significant hope for patients with otherwise treatment-resistant migraine, but also resulted in significant capacity issues at the point of delivery, as patients require follow-up at certain timepoints.

Aim

Pilot a patient-completed “follow-up form” (FuF) to replace direct patient contact at the time of 1-year treatment review in patients receiving anti-CGRP (receptor (r)) antibody therapy for chronic migraine.

Methods

Patients with chronic migraine already receiving anti-CGRP(r) antibody therapy and due for 1-year review were contacted by telephone and recruited into the study. Patients completed a simple online form, which mirrored questions asked at 1-year follow-up, and a patient satisfaction survey.

Results

Thirty-nine (78 %) of 50 patients completed the FuF, which resulted in further telephone contact in 3 (8 %) patients. Over 90 % strongly agreed that the FuF was easy to understand and complete. 80 % strongly agreed that they felt confident in decision making regarding continuation or cessation of anti-CGRP(r) antibody therapy. Overall, 88 % rated their experience of the online form as “Excellent” and 12 % as “Good”.

Conclusions

Within our headache service, we have demonstrated that an appropriately designed online patient-completed form has the potential to replace direct patient contact at 1-year review in patients already receiving anti-CGRP(r) antibody therapy for chronic migraine.