Effectiveness of Integrated Education and Relaxation Program on Migraine Related Disability in Patients Attending Headache Clinic, Ain Shams University Hospitals: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Abstract

Abstract Background: Migraine is the most disabling primary headache disorder worldwide. The value of integrative strategies in migraine management has been raised due to the recurrent and provoked nature of migraine. Aim: to evaluate the effectiveness of implementing therapeutic patient education and relaxation training program versus usual pharmacological treatment alone on the frequency, severity, and duration of migraine attacks as primary outcome and migraine-related disability and quality of life as secondary outcome.Methods: A randomized controlled trial was conducted at the specialized headache clinic of a Tertiary Referral Centre. Sixty patients were randomly assigned to intervention or control groups. Participants in the intervention arm received the education and relaxation training program and were instructed to perform daily relaxation exercises in addition to their routine pharmacological treatment meanwhile the control group only received their routine treatments. Follow-up was done after 1, and 3 months using headache diary and migraine specific quality of life questionnaire (MSQ). Result: After implementation of the program there was a significant reduction in migraine attacks severity in the intervention group compared to the control group (p < 0.001), also they had significantly fewer migraine headache days/month and duration of migraine attacks compared to patients in control group (p < 0.001). Statistically significant improvement of Role-Function Restrictive, Role-Function Preventive and Emotional Function domains of MSQ (p < 0.001).Conclusion: An integrated migraine management program has a significant effect on reducing the burden of migraine attacks and improving the daily activities of migraine sufferers.