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Coping with headache.
Rune Slettbakk1, Christine Vaksdal Nilsen, Kirsti Malterud
1Section for General Practice, Department of Public Health and Primary Health Care, University of Bergen, Norway. Rune.Slettbakk@student.uib.no
Scandinavian Journal of Primary Health Care
|February 9, 2006
Summary
Women coping with episodic tension-type headaches found rhythm and balance in daily activities essential. Cognitive strategies included taking charge of their time and accepting their condition.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Psychology
- Qualitative Research
Background:
- Episodic tension-type headache (TTH) is a common neurological disorder.
- Understanding patient-centered coping mechanisms is crucial for effective management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To describe self-initiated actions and cognitive strategies used by women experiencing episodic TTH.
- To explore the lived experiences of women managing TTH.
Main Methods:
- Qualitative data collected from focus-group interviews.
- Analysis employed Giorgi's phenomenological approach, informed by Lazarus's coping theory.
- 15 women aged 20-60 with TTH participated.
Main Results:
- Maintaining rhythm and balance in eating, drinking, and sleeping was key for coping.
- Women utilized thermal modulation and exercise as physical coping strategies.
- Cognitive strategies included self-management of time and pace, and acceptance of the condition.
Conclusions:
- General practitioners should identify and support patients' individual coping strategies for TTH.
- Empowering women with TTH involves recognizing their self-initiated actions and cognitive approaches.
- Integrating patient-reported coping mechanisms can enhance TTH management plans.