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Published on: June 2, 2014
Receiving Medical Care for Chronic Migraines: A Phenomenological Study
Douglas McPhee1, Cameron C Brown1, W David Robinson1
1From Marriage and Family Therapy Program, Mount Mercy University, Cedar Rapids, the Department of Community, Family and Addiction Sciences, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, the Department of Human Development and Family Studies, Utah State University, Logan, and the Department of Family Medicine, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha.
Objectives:
Treating chronic migraine (CM) effectively is one of the greatest challenges a primary care provider (PCP) may encounter. Many patients with CM report dissatisfaction and minimal gains from treatment, despite using the best medical interventions available. For this study, patients with CM and their partners provided insight into how PCPs could improve CM treatment.
Methods:
Using the immersion/crystallization phenomenological method, we collected data from 11 patients with CM and 8 of their partners (N = 19). We analyzed open-ended survey responses about migraine treatment from patients with CM, as well as transcripts from interviews with patients with CM and their partners (14 interviews total) about their medical experiences.
Results:
Participants used a variety of pharmacological and alternative treatments in search of a cure; wanted to be treated more collaboratively; and repeatedly gave up on medical care, but then sought treatment again.
Conclusions:
PCPs could be trained to encourage patients with CM to shift toward accepting and managing migraines rather than endlessly hoping for a cure. Patients could be taught to manage CM using a holistic, biopsychosocial approach.
