Headache cessation by an educational intervention in grammar schools: a cluster randomized trial

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Adolescent Health
• Preventive Medicine

Background:

• Headache is a prevalent health issue among adolescents.
• Several modifiable risk factors contribute to adolescent headaches.
• Targeting these risk factors can be an effective intervention strategy.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy of a classroom-based, low-level headache prevention program.
• To assess the program's impact on modifiable headache risk factors in adolescents.

Main Methods:

• Cluster randomized trial involving 1674 students (8th-10th grade) in Munich.
• A 60-minute lesson covered physical activity, substance use, stress management, and relaxation techniques.
• Outcome assessed was headache cessation after seven months, analyzed using logistic regression with random effects.

Main Results:

• Headache cessation rates were 16.22% in the intervention group versus 9.78% in the control group.
• The intervention group showed a 1.77 times higher probability of headache cessation (95% CI [1.08; 2.90]).
• Adolescents with tension-type headache experienced the most significant benefit (OR = 2.11, 95% CI [1.15; 3.80]).

Conclusions:

• A single, classroom-based headache prevention program is effective.
• The intervention successfully reduced headache prevalence in adolescents.
• This program offers a viable strategy for managing adolescent headaches.