A pilot study of a headache program in the workplace. The effect of education

Headache is a frequent problem in the workplace and contributes to absenteeism and productivity loss. Disease-management programs targeting headache may reduce its impact on employees, employers, and society. A pilot study was conducted in an employer setting (J.P. Morgan & Co., Incorporated; four locations in New York City and two in Delaware) to evaluate a multimedia computer-based (kiosk) headache program. Study objectives included assessing the effect of the program on participant outcomes and evaluating the educational component of the program. Through the kiosk, participants were questioned about the types, severity, and frequency of their headaches; the impact of headaches on their daily activities; and lost workdays as a result of headache. All participants received personalized reports about their headaches, and the participants in New York were given access to an on-site neurologist and additional educational information. A follow-up assessment was requested 3 months after the baseline screening to evaluate the effect of the program. A total of 185 participants completed both a baseline and follow-up session. Of 177 evaluable participants, 19% saw a physician for headache after their initial kiosk session. Fifty-six percent of evaluable participants reported overall improvement in headache symptoms at follow-up (P < 0.01), with decreased headache frequency and better understanding of headache most often selected as reasons for improvement. Participants also reported higher satisfaction with headache management after using the program and fewer urgent care/emergency room visits for headache (P < 0.01). For participants who reported lost workdays because of headache, the number of days missed had decreased by the follow-up. The results of this study indicate that the headache program improved outcomes. Because all participants received educational materials, it is likely that education played a role in the improvements observed. These results are encouraging and warrant further study in larger, controlled trials.