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Dilemma of migraine diagnosis and management among non-neurologists - The Egyptian Journal of Neurology, Psychiatry and Neurosurgery
Source : https://ejnpn.springeropen.com/articles/10.1186/s41983-021-00371-8
Background Migraine is a common and debilitating disorder however there is a wide gap in its diagnosis and management. Many migraine patients present to non-neurologists, so it is of utmost importance that non neurologists become well oriented with the diagnostic criteria and different lines of management.
• Conclusion/Relevance: “Knowledge regarding migraine diagnosis and treatment was unsatisfactory among non-neurologists. This has a major effect on the level of patients care and detrimentally affects the referral to neurologists consequently affecting the patient’s diagnosis and management, so it is of utmost importance to address non-neurologists about different types of headache, how to diagnose and how to manage. Most of the participants preferred medical tailored program and social media. Undergraduate lectures proved to be the least effective method of education while medical tailored programs proved to be more effective, so it is important to address members of different specialties according to their preferred method and it is important to enhance the undergraduate programs with updated knowledge and shed light on the importance of such prevalent disorder to provide better management and lessen its burden.”
• The purpose of the current Egyptian cross-sectional study was to analyze the attitudes and knowledge of non-neurologists with respect to migraine. In the study, 167 physicians from different specialties were given a self-administered questionnaire.
• In total, 45% of physicians surveyed referred migraine patients to non-neurologists, with only % cognizant of both classic and novel treatments. Furthermore, 43% exhibited poor knowledge of migraine symptoms and management. Overall, 32.34% of respondents suggested using medical tailored programs to boost the awareness of non-neurologists regarding migraine.
• A strength of this study is that is was performed across different specialties, thus including more than just primary care physicians.