Impact of the implementation of a therapeutic education program for patients with chronic migraine

Objective

To analyze the impact of implementing a therapeutic education (TE) program for patients with chronic migraine.

Method

Prospective longitudinal intervention and assessment study before and after the program, lasting 6 months, conducted at the Headache and Facial Pain Unit of Hospital Clinic in Barcelona.

Results

TE resulted in a significant improvement in the frequency of headache days per month, DCM (15.6 ± 6.84 vs. 11.5 ± 4.68; p < 0.001), migraine days per month, DMM (7.38 ± 1.44 vs. 5.88 ± 1.36; p < 0.001), and increased perception of quality of life, measured through the MSQ scale (65.4 ± 10.11 vs. 51 ± 11.36; p < 0.001). Regarding satisfaction, we can observe that 97.5% of patients who attended group sessions would recommend them to other people with migraines and, furthermore, considered the content to be good or excellent.

Conclusions

TE in the treatment of chronic migraine offers a promising improvement in the quality of life of patients by empowering them with knowledge about their condition and pain management strategies. This complements pharmacological treatments by focusing on prevention and self-care. Although more research is needed to establish standard protocols, the presence of advanced practice nurses in headaches is crucial for the successful implementation of these programs.