Prevalence of recurrent headache and its association with academic performance among King Khalid University male medical students

Abstract

Objectives: To identify the magnitude and risk factors of headache among male university students in medical colleges, King Khalid University, Abha, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Subjects and Methods: A cross-sectional questionnaire-based study was implemented included a representative sample of male students registered and regularly attending in colleges of Medicine, Pharmacy, Dentistry and Applied Medical Sciences for the academic year 1434-1435 H. A stratified sampling technique with proportional allocation was adopted. The data were collected through filling a self-administered questionnaire include demographic data and details of headache using Headache Assessment Questionnaire. Results: The prevalence rate of headache during the last 12 months was 70.4%. According to the criteria of the International Headache Society (IHS) for diagnosis of different types of headache, the prevalence of tension-type headache was 17.7% while that of migraine was 8.5%. Smokers and students of college of medicine were at higher risk for headache. Almost a quarter of medical students with history of headache visited physicians seeking for treatment. Regarding type of medication taken by medical students for treatment of their headache, acetaminophen and ibuprofen were taken by 33.5% and 22% of them. Academic performance of the medical students, based on their grade point average (GPA) in the last term, was significantly associated with their history of headache during the last year (p=0.009). Conclusions: Headache is a high-prevalence condition among medical students at King Khalid University. Headache is of greater prevalence than migraine and tension-type headache. Most university students rely on non-prescription simple analgesics for headache relief. Students who report headache have worse academic performance.