The ideas of people referred to neurologists about managing their headaches: A qualitative study
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POSTER PRESENTATION Open Access The ideas of people referred to neurologists about managing their headaches: A qualitative study F Nadeem * , A Noble, L Ridsdale, M Morgan From The European Headache and Migraine Trust International Congress London, UK. 20-23 September 2012 Introduction Headache is the commonest reason for General Practi- tioner (GP) referrals to neurologists, accounting for 25% of all referrals. Those that are referred, however, constitute only 2% of patients who consult GPs with headache. Previous research has suggested that referred patients are more fearful and anxious about their symptoms than those managed without referral. GPs described pressure to refer, often for a brain scan. We now report patients’ perspectives. Aims/objectives The aim of this study was to explore the view of people consulting GPs with headache who were referred to neurologists. Methods A qualitative study using semi-structured interviews with nineteen adults aged 23-63, referred by their GPs to neurologists for primary headaches. Audio-recorded interviews were transcribed and analysed thematically. Results Participants described recurring concerns about secondary organic causes for headache, like a brain tumour. They described their headaches as stressful and a vicious cycle, with further headaches occurring. Some reported cata- strophic fears, leading them to attend A&E. Many believed they needed a brain scan, and over half had had a scan, all of which were normal. Many reported dissatisfaction with care and use of alternative therapies. Conclusion People referred to neurologists for headache described fear and distress, particularly about the possibility of a brain tumour. GPs now have open access to scanning. This may relieve physical concerns. Interventions to address health- related anxiety may help some consulters for headache too. Published: 21 February 2013 References 1. Morgan M, Jenkins L, Ridsdale L: Patient pressure for referral for headache: a qualitative study of GPs’ referral behaviour. Br J Gen Pract 2007, 57:29-35. 2. Ridsdale L, Clark L, Dowson A, Godlstein L, Jenkins L, McCrone P, Morgan M, Seed P: How do patients referred to neurologists for headache differ from those managed in primary care? British Journal of General Practice 2007, 57:388-395. doi:10.1186/1129-2377-14-S1-P203 Cite this article as: Nadeem et al.: The ideas of people referred to neurologists about managing their headaches: A qualitative study. The Journal of Headache and Pain 2013 14(Suppl 1):P203. Submit your manuscript to a journal and benefit from: 7 Convenient online submission 7 Rigorous peer review 7 Immediate publication on acceptance 7 Open access: articles freely available online 7 High visibility within the field 7 Retaining the copyright to your article Submit your next manuscript at 7 springeropen.com Kings College London, UK Nadeem et al. The Journal of Headache and Pain 2013, 14(Suppl 1):P203 http://www.thejournalofheadacheandpain.com/content/14/S1/P203 © 2013 Nadeem et al; licensee Springer. This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Transcript of The ideas of people referred to neurologists about managing their headaches: A qualitative study
POSTER PRESENTATION Open Access
The ideas of people referred to neurologists aboutmanaging their headaches: A qualitative studyF Nadeem*, A Noble, L Ridsdale, M Morgan
From The European Headache and Migraine Trust International CongressLondon, UK. 20-23 September 2012
IntroductionHeadache is the commonest reason for General Practi-tioner (GP) referrals to neurologists, accounting for 25% ofall referrals. Those that are referred, however, constituteonly 2% of patients who consult GPs with headache.Previous research has suggested that referred patients aremore fearful and anxious about their symptoms thanthose managed without referral. GPs described pressure torefer, often for a brain scan. We now report patients’perspectives.
Aims/objectivesThe aim of this study was to explore the view of peopleconsulting GPs with headache who were referred toneurologists.
MethodsA qualitative study using semi-structured interviewswith nineteen adults aged 23-63, referred by their GPsto neurologists for primary headaches. Audio-recordedinterviews were transcribed and analysed thematically.
ResultsParticipants described recurring concerns about secondaryorganic causes for headache, like a brain tumour. Theydescribed their headaches as stressful and a vicious cycle,with further headaches occurring. Some reported cata-strophic fears, leading them to attend A&E. Many believedthey needed a brain scan, and over half had had a scan, allof which were normal. Many reported dissatisfaction withcare and use of alternative therapies.
ConclusionPeople referred to neurologists for headache described fearand distress, particularly about the possibility of a brain
tumour. GPs now have open access to scanning. This mayrelieve physical concerns. Interventions to address health-related anxiety may help some consulters for headachetoo.
Published: 21 February 2013
References1. Morgan M, Jenkins L, Ridsdale L: Patient pressure for referral for
headache: a qualitative study of GPs’ referral behaviour. Br J Gen Pract2007, 57:29-35.
2. Ridsdale L, Clark L, Dowson A, Godlstein L, Jenkins L, McCrone P,Morgan M, Seed P: How do patients referred to neurologists forheadache differ from those managed in primary care? British Journal ofGeneral Practice 2007, 57:388-395.
doi:10.1186/1129-2377-14-S1-P203Cite this article as: Nadeem et al.: The ideas of people referred toneurologists about managing their headaches: A qualitative study. TheJournal of Headache and Pain 2013 14(Suppl 1):P203.
Submit your manuscript to a journal and benefi t from:
7 Convenient online submission
7 Rigorous peer review
7 Immediate publication on acceptance
7 Open access: articles freely available online
7 High visibility within the fi eld
7 Retaining the copyright to your article
Submit your next manuscript at 7 springeropen.com
Kings College London, UK
Nadeem et al. The Journal of Headache and Pain 2013, 14(Suppl 1):P203http://www.thejournalofheadacheandpain.com/content/14/S1/P203
© 2013 Nadeem et al; licensee Springer. This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative CommonsAttribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction inany medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
