Headache-related Quality Of Life Research Articles

Effectiveness of Novel Sympathetic Nerve Entrapment Point Injections for Chronic Migraine: A Pilot Study.

No studies to date have investigated the ability of sympathetic nerve entrapment point saline (SNEP) injections to achieve long-term pain relief in patients with migraine. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the safety and long-term efficacy of repeat splenius capitis (SC) SNEP injections in patients with migraine (with/without tension-type headache). This retrospective, single-arm study included 12 patients with migraine. Isotonic saline was injected into their SC approximately six times for 3 months. Headache frequency, duration (hour/week), intensity (using the visual analog scale), and quality of life (using the Headache Impact Test-6) were assessed during the follow-up visits for up to 24 months after the first injection. Changes before and after treatment were assessed using repeated-measures analysis of variance. Significant reductions in headache frequency, duration, and intensity were observed at all assessment points after SNEP injections when compared with the baseline values (p < 0.05), while the patients' headache-related quality of life also improved. Treatment was continued for up to 3 months to maintain these improvements, and no worsening of status or adverse effects were observed in any of the patients over the following 24 months. Our results show that SNEP injections may offer persistent, substantial, and clinically relevant benefits in patients with migraine.

Study on key outcome indexes in treatment of migraine with acupuncture and moxibustion

To identify the key outcome indexes in treatment of migraine with acupuncture and moxibustion. Using literature research, questionnaire survey and consensus conference, the key outcome indexes in treatment of migraine with acupuncture and moxibustion were screened and prioritized. The critical outcome indexes for the treatment in attack stage of migraine included 6 effectiveness outcome indexes (headache intensity, headache duration, headache relieve time, effectiveness and level of headache relief within 2 h, headache-related quality of life, level of headache relief within 24 h) and 1 safety outcome index (incidence of serious adverse reactions). The critical outcome indexes for prophylactic treatment included 6 effectiveness outcome indexes (headache day, headache frequency, headache intensity, effective rate, headache-related quality of life, health-related quality of life) and 1 safety outcome index (incidence of serious adverse reactions). In terms of the attack stage treatment and prophylactic treatment with acupuncture and moxibustion, the outcome indexes are different, among which, those can directly reflect the conditions of migraine should be optioned in priority. To assess the effectiveness of attack stage, the headache intensity is preferred, using the visual analogue scale (VAS) score, and the preferred time is 2 hours after treatment. Regarding the effectiveness of prophylactic treatment, the headache day, headache frequency and headache intensity should be firstly considered in the assessment, in which, the preferred time for assessment is 12 weeks into treatment, while, the best time for follow-up should be 12 weeks after treatment completion. When the quality of life is considered, the migraine-specific quality of life questionnaire (MSQ) is the top option. For either the attack stage treatment or the prophylactic treatment, the high attention should be laid on the outcome indexes for safety and medical economics evaluation.

Effects of Inhaling Essential Oil on Headache-Related Quality of Life Among Nurses Working in Emergency and Critical Care Units

Headache attacks are prevalent symptoms in emergency and critical care nurses. Prior evidence supports the analgesic effects of essential oils on headache symptoms. However, few empirical studies have examined how essential oil may further improve the relief of related symptoms. If essential oils are effective in headache relief, nurses' quality of life and care quality may also be improved. This study was designed to examine the effects of inhaling essential oil on (1) headache-related disability, (2) headache-related quality of life, and (3) perceived care quality in emergency and critical care nurses. A cluster randomized control trial and crossover experimental design were adopted. The participants, all nurses with headaches working in emergency and critical care units (N = 49) in a medical center in northern Taiwan, were cluster randomized to Group A and B. Group A wore a necklace with essential oil (100% Lavandula angustifolia 0.1 ml + 100% citrus bergamia 0.1 ml) for 28 days (intervention period), stopped wearing the necklace for 7 days (wash-out), and then wore the necklace without essential oil for 28 days (control period). Group B underwent the control period (28 days) first, followed by the wash-out (7 days) and then the intervention period (28 days). Data were collected using a self-administered questionnaires that was administered three times (at day 0, day 28, day 63). The questionnaire included a demographic and headache-related datasheet, headache diary, Headache Disability Index, Migraine-Specific Questionnaire version 2.1 (role restrictive, role preventive, and emotion function), SERVQUAL (Service Quality), DASS-21, and Copenhagen Burnout Inventory. Repeated measures ANOVA (RM-ANOVA) and generalized estimating equations (GEEs) were used to analyze data. Headache-related quality of life showed significant improvement in the role restrictive (β = 9.77, p = .008) and role preventive (β = 10.03, p = .018) domains. However, headache-related disability and care quality showed no significant differences (p > .05), indicating that inhaling essential oil had a positive effect on quality of life. The findings of this study support that using a necklace with essential oil (Lavandula angustifolia and citrus bergamia 1:1) for 28 days effectively improves quality of life, especially in the domain of role function, in nurses working in emergency and critical care units. Additional empirical studies may be developed in the future to promote the benefits of using essential oils to ease pain.

Translation of the Child and Adolescent HARDSHIP (Headache-Attributed Restriction, Disability, Social Handicap and Impaired Participation) Questionnaire into the Lithuanian Language and Validation of Its HRQoL (Headache-Related Quality of Life) Scale.

Recently developed and originally published in English, the Child and Adolescent HARDSHIP (headache-attributed restriction, disability, social handicap and impaired participation) questionnaire is valid and acceptable for the global assessment of the burden of headache in children and adolescents. The present study aimed to translate, adapt and validate a Lithuanian version of this questionnaire. A total of 22 volunteers from 7 to 17 years of age completed the questionnaire with 24 h test-retest and a representative sample of 2505 schoolchildren of the same age participated in the main study. Test-retest reliability of the HRQoL (Headache Related Quality of Life) scale in the translated questionnaire showed substantial agreement (kappa: 0.604). Reliability and validity of the translated HRQoL scale were acceptable (Cronbach’s alpha: 0.749; test-retest kappa: 0.604, test for discriminant validity demonstrated that quality of life decreased by severity of headache). Factorial analysis revealed the two-dimensional structure of the HRQoL scale with indices of good model fit to the collected data. A total of 92.2% of the surveyed children had experienced headache in their lifetime, 74.2% during the last year. Girls and older children experienced headache more often than participants from the other groups. The translated Lithuanian version of the questionnaire seems to be a valid, feasible and acceptable instrument to measure the extent of the burden of headache in large populations.

Combination of Ayurveda and Yoga therapy reduces pain intensity and improves quality of life in patients with migraine headache

ObjectivesTo Understand the efficacy of Ayurveda and Yoga in the management of Migraine Headache. Methods30 subjects recruited to Ayurveda and Yoga (AY) group underwent traditional Panchakarma (Bio-purificatory process) using therapeutic Purgation followed by Yoga therapy, while 30 subjects of Control (CT) group continued on symptomatic treatment (NSAID's) for 90 days. Body constitution questionnaire was administered to both groups. The outcome measures included Symptom check list, Comprehensive Headache related Quality of Life Questionnaire and Visual Analogue Scale. ResultsForty-six (76.6%) out of 60 subjects belonging to both groups had Pitta based body constitution. Following 90 days of intervention the AY group showed significant reduction in Migraine symptoms including pain intensity (p < .001) and improvement in Headache related Quality of Life (p < .001). The CT group showed no significant change (p > .05). ConclusionTraditional Ayurveda along with Yoga therapy reduces symptoms, intensity of pain and improves Quality of life in Migraine patients.

Carthami-Semen acupuncture point injection for chronic daily headache: A pilot, randomised, double-blind, controlled trial

This study was conducted to examine the possibility of Carthami-Semen (CS, Safflower seed) acupuncture point injection as a new promising treatment for chronic daily headache (CDH). A total of 40 subjects with CDH were recruited and randomised to a CS acupuncture point injection group or a normal saline (NS) acupuncture point injection group. Acupuncture point injections were applied twice a week during 4 weeks to the bilateral Fengchi (GB20), Jianjing (GB21) and Taiyang (EX-HN5) acupoints with CS extract or NS. The primary outcome measure was headache-related quality of life (QoL), assessed using the Headache Impact Test (HIT). Secondary outcome measures were the changes in the number of headache-free days and health status as assessed with the Short Form (36) Health Survey (SF-36). HIT scores decreased by 14.9 points in the CS acupuncture point injection group compared with 7.9 points in the NS acupuncture point injection group (p=0.013). Headache-free days increased by 32.6% in the CS acupuncture point injection group compared with 17.4% in the NS acupuncture point injection group (p=0.045). There were significant increases in SF-36 scores compared with baseline in both groups, but the mean improvement was greater in the CS acupuncture point injection group. No serious adverse events (AEs) were reported. We suggest that the CS acupuncture point injection could be a new safe and promising treatment for CDH. A larger and long-term follow-up trial is needed to determine more definitely the efficacy of CS acupuncture point injection and to elucidate how long the effect lasts.

A Randomized, Controlled Trial of Acupuncture for Chronic Daily Headache

Approximately 4% of adults experience headaches nearly every day. Nonpharmacologic interventions for frequent headaches may be appropriate because medical management alone is often ineffective. To assess the efficacy of acupuncture as an adjunct to medical management for chronic daily headache (CDH). We conducted a randomized, controlled trial of 74 patients with CDH that compared medical management provided by neurologists to medical management plus 10 acupuncture treatments. Primary outcome measures were daily pain severity and headache-related quality of life (QoL). Patients who received only medical management did not demonstrate improvement in any of the standardized measures. Daily pain severity scores trended downward but did not differ between treatment groups (P= .60). Relative to medical management only, medical management plus acupuncture was associated with an improvement of 3.0 points (95% CI, 1.0 to 4.9) on the Headache Impact Test and an increase of 8 or more points on the role limitations due to physical problems, social functioning, and general mental health domains of the Short Form 36 Health Survey. Patients who received acupuncture were 3.7 times more likely (CI, 1.7 to 8.1) to report less suffering from headaches at 6 weeks (absolute risk reduction 46%; number needed to treat 2). Headache-specialty medical management alone was not associated with improved clinical outcomes among our study population. Supplementing medical management with acupuncture, however, resulted in improvements in health-related QoL and the perception by patients that they suffered less from headaches.