Delayed opportunities for patient-provider communication about medication overuse headache: Mixed methods perspectives from patients and neurologists

Objectives: Medication overuse headache (MOH) is a common, debilitating condition occurring when migraine patients overuse pain relief medications. We conducted a convergent mixed methods study examining patient-provider communication on MOH.

Methods: Migraine patients were identified from one academic health center via electronic health records. Research staff recruited patients and administered a remote survey on MOH awareness, knowledge, and communication; descriptive and bivariate analyses were conducted. Neurologists from the same health center were invited to participate in qualitative interviews; analysis drew from the Rapid Identification of Themes from Audio Recordings procedures. A side-by-side comparison of results followed.

Results: Participants included 200 patients and 13 neurologists. More than one third of patients (39.5 %) had never heard of 'medication overuse headache.' Among those who had, 38.4 % learned about MOH ≥ 5 years after their migraine diagnosis. Neurologists similarly reported limited patient awareness of MOH and suggested communication was provider-initiated, reactive to patient-reported symptoms and behaviors. Participants agreed MOH was described as a 'consequence' of frequent medication taking, though specific terminology varied with neurologists suggesting they choose terms they perceive to be easier to understand and less stigmatizing to patients. Neurologists felt they lacked effective patient education resources.

Conclusions: Findings reveal delayed opportunities to inform patients about MOH. Standardized education supporting early preventive communication is needed, perhaps in primary care where many patients seek initial care for migraine symptoms.