Access to care - an unmet need in headache management?

Abstract

Access to care for headache sufferers is not always simple. A survey conducted in a large number of members of lay associations point to the existence of multiple barriers to care for headache in several European countries. Patients usually discover the existence of specialized structures with a delay of several years after the onset of their headache. Furthermore, a relevant portion of them are not satisfied with the management of their disease, partly because of the poor efficacy of treatments and partly because of the difficulty to get in touch with the specialist. Headache disorders, and primary headaches in particular, represent an important issue in public health, because they are common, disabling and treatable. A joint effort is required from the relevant stakeholders (scientists, lay organizations, decision-makers, healthcare policymakers, and others) to improve the access to care for headache sufferers.

Acceptability, Feasibility, and Cost of Telemedicine for Nonacute Headaches: A Randomized Study Comparing Video and Traditional Consultations

“…These findings concur with a 2009/2010 survey from a remote area, including 1816 individuals, which reports a social acceptance of telehealth at 77.7% (1356/1745) and a confidence level at 65.8% (1146/1742) [ 25 ]. On the other hand, another survey conducted in 2008 with a total of 1634 individuals spread over different European countries shows that 42%-81% (964/1634) of patients with headache are unsatisfied with their health care [ 9 ]. Additionally, a similar European survey from 2013 shows that 48 % (929/1935) are unsatisfied with the headache management [ 9 ].…”

“…On the other hand, another survey conducted in 2008 with a total of 1634 individuals spread over different European countries shows that 42%-81% (964/1634) of patients with headache are unsatisfied with their health care [ 9 ]. Additionally, a similar European survey from 2013 shows that 48 % (929/1935) are unsatisfied with the headache management [ 9 ]. The authors concluded that access and availability to health care had previously not been given enough attention when analyzing the burden of headaches [ 9 ].…”

“…Telemedicine may help reduce the burden for neurological patients who live in rural or underserved areas [ 9 , 10 ], and it is considered equal in quality to traditional visits among different medical professions [ 11 ]. Guidelines for telemedicine in a second opinion for headaches have been suggested [ 12 ], but the feasibility of telemedicine being used as a tool for outpatient headache specialist consultations has only been addressed in case series [ 13 - 16 ].…”

Video consultations in medication overuse headache. A randomized controlled trial

“…Access to care and patient's preferences are important elements to consider when organizing an optimal service for the patients. Access variability for headache sufferers referred to a specialist is a recognized problem (Tassorelli, Farm, et al, ). A cross‐sectional study showed that MOH patients ( n = 65) preferred information to be given personally (Munksgaard et al, ).…”

Headache as a sociomedical problem: A review of literature

“…Проведенное в Италии исследование показало, что пациенты с ГБ обнаруживают существование специализи-рованной медицинской службы по лечению ГБ, как прави-ло, через несколько лет после дебюта заболевания [14].…”