An Internet-based migraine headache diary: issues in Internet-based research

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Digital Health
• Clinical Research Methods

Background:

• Migraine headaches are often perceived as unpredictable by sufferers.
• Daily headache diaries can identify prodromal warning symptoms in up to 70% of migraine patients.
• Internet-based diaries offer a novel approach to headache tracking, previously unexplored.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the feasibility of using an Internet-based headache diary.
• To determine the acceptability of this digital tool for daily data collection.
• To achieve acceptable completion rates for online headache diaries.

Main Methods:

• A conventional headache diary was adapted for internet-based data collection over four months.
• Participants (18-55 years, migraine criteria) were recruited online, consented electronically, and screened.
• Daily diary entries, health questionnaires, and follow-up interviews were conducted via the internet.

Main Results:

• The Internet-based approach successfully recruited participants from diverse geographical locations.
• A majority of participants (68%) completed over 50% of diary pages within 24 hours.
• Most participants (87%) expressed willingness to continue using the diary and found it beneficial for understanding their headache patterns.

Conclusions:

• Internet-based headache diaries are a viable and acceptable method for data collection in migraine research.
• This digital tool facilitates access to geographically diverse populations, including those new to research.
• The study confirms the feasibility of online recruitment and retention for such research.