Journal
JOURNAL OF HEADACHE AND PAIN
Volume 15, Issue -, Pages -Publisher
BMC
DOI: 10.1186/1129-2377-15-10
Keywords
Medication-overuse headache; Analgesia; Headache; Prevention; Education
Categories
Funding
- MRC [MR/K015184/1] Funding Source: UKRI
- Medical Research Council [MR/K023195/1B, MR/K015184/1] Funding Source: researchfish
- National Institute for Health Research [CL-2009-09-001, NIHR-CS-011-028] Funding Source: researchfish
- Medical Research Council [MR/K023195/1, MR/K015184/1] Funding Source: Medline
- Department of Health [NIHR-CS-011-028] Funding Source: Medline
Ask authors/readers for more resources
Background: Medication-overuse headache (MOH) is caused by the regular use of medications to treat headache. There has been a lack of research into awareness of MOH. We distributed an electronic survey to undergraduate students and their contacts via social networking sites. Analgesic use, awareness of MOH, perceived change in behaviour following educational intervention about the risks of MOH and preferred terminology for MOH was evaluated. 485 respondents completed the questionnaire (41% having received healthcare training). 77% were unaware of the possibility of MOH resulting from regular analgesic use for headache. Following education about MOH, 80% stated they would reduce analgesic consumption or seek medical advice. 83% indicated that over the counter analgesia should carry a warning of MOH. The preferred terminology for MOH was painkiller-induced headache. This study highlights the lack of awareness of MOH. Improved education about MOH and informative packaging of analgesics, highlighting the risks in preferred lay terminology (i.e. painkiller-induced headache), may reduce this iatrogenic morbidity and warrants further evaluation.
Authors
I am an author on this paper
Click your name to claim this paper and add it to your profile.
Reviews
Recommended
No Data Available