The pillars of migraine diagnosis and treatment: Information from primary care physicians in Colombia

Introduction: Migraine is a highly prevalent and disabling condition, with most patients treated at the primary care level. To the best of our knowledge, no information is available in Colombia regarding the knowledge of migraine among physicians at this level of care. Objective: To determine the pr...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: J. Muñoz-Cerón, L. Gallo, D. Gómez-Barrera
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-07-01
Series:Neurology Perspectives
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2667049625000080
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1849703586550775808
author J. Muñoz-Cerón
L. Gallo
D. Gómez-Barrera
author_facet J. Muñoz-Cerón
L. Gallo
D. Gómez-Barrera
author_sort J. Muñoz-Cerón
collection DOAJ
description Introduction: Migraine is a highly prevalent and disabling condition, with most patients treated at the primary care level. To the best of our knowledge, no information is available in Colombia regarding the knowledge of migraine among physicians at this level of care. Objective: To determine the proportion of primary care physicians who observe the pillars of migraine diagnosis and treatment in their clinical practice: the International Classification of Headache Disorders (ICHD-3) diagnostic criteria, the indication to start preventive treatment, restriction of analgesic medication, and considering the presence of comorbidities. Material and methods: We conducted a cross-sectional survey of actively practising primary care physicians from all over Colombia using an online semi-structured questionnaire, which was completed by general practitioners, paediatricians, gynaecologists, internists, and family medicine specialists. Results: A total of 347 primary care physicians from all the regions of Colombia were surveyed; 23.2% used the ICHD-3 criteria, 49% and 85% were familiar with the Colombian guidelines for starting preventive treatment and limiting analgesic medication overuse, respectively; 61% never considered opioids for acute attacks; and 80% took comorbidities into account in their clinical approach. The compliance index for the main pillars of migraine care was 52%. We found no significant differences when specialty, length of time in practice, age, and area of work were compared. Conclusion: This study suggests that there is limited knowledge about migraine among Colombian primary care physicians. These results are comparable with similar studies conducted around the world. Resumen: Introducción y objetivos: La migraña es una condición prevalente e incapacitante, en la mayoría de los casos atendida en el cuidado primario. De acuerdo a nuestros conocimientos, en Colombia no existe información con respecto al conocimiento de la migraña en este nivel de atención.Determinar la proporción de médicos de atención primaria (MCP) quienes tienen en cuenta los pilares del diagnóstico y tratamiento de la migraña: Uso de los criterios ICHD 3, adherencia a las recomendaciones para iniciar terapia preventiva, indicación de restricción de medicamentos analgésicos junto con consideración de comorbilidades en la práctica clínica de la migraña. Materiales y métodos: Estudio de cohorte transversal. Mediante un cuestionario semiestructurado en línea se entrevistó a MCP laboralmente activos de todo el territorio colombiano, incluyendo médicos generales, pediatras, ginecólogos, internistas y especialistas en medicina familiar. Resultados: Se entrevistaron 347 MCP de todas las regiones de Colombia. El 23,2% utiliza criterios ICHD 3, el 49% y el 85% conocen las pautas de recomendaciones colombianas para iniciar terapia preventiva y limitar el uso excesivo de analgésicos respectivamente, el 61% nunca considera opioides para ataques agudos y el 80% tiene en cuenta las comorbilidades como parte del abordaje clínico. El cumplimiento del índice clínico en la muestra fue del 52%. No encontramos diferencias significativas al comparar especialidades, tiempo de ejercicio, edad y área de trabajo. Conclusión: Este estudio sugiere un conocimiento limitado sobre la migraña en la atención primaria en Colombia, estos resultados son comparables con estudios similares alrededor del mundo.
format Article
id doaj-art-3db64c387e364e8f862b78b75969ddd2
institution DOAJ
issn 2667-0496
language English
publishDate 2025-07-01
publisher Elsevier
record_format Article
series Neurology Perspectives
spelling doaj-art-3db64c387e364e8f862b78b75969ddd22025-08-20T03:17:13ZengElsevierNeurology Perspectives2667-04962025-07-015310019010.1016/j.neurop.2025.100190The pillars of migraine diagnosis and treatment: Information from primary care physicians in ColombiaJ. Muñoz-Cerón0L. Gallo1D. Gómez-Barrera2Hospital Universitario Mayor MÉDERI, Bogotá, Colombia; Universidad del Rosario, Bogotá, Colombia; Clínica Universitaria Colombia – Keralty, Bogotá, ColombiaHospital Universitario Mayor MÉDERI, Bogotá, ColombiaHospital Universitario Mayor MÉDERI, Bogotá, Colombia; Universidad del Rosario, Bogotá, Colombia; Corresponding author.Introduction: Migraine is a highly prevalent and disabling condition, with most patients treated at the primary care level. To the best of our knowledge, no information is available in Colombia regarding the knowledge of migraine among physicians at this level of care. Objective: To determine the proportion of primary care physicians who observe the pillars of migraine diagnosis and treatment in their clinical practice: the International Classification of Headache Disorders (ICHD-3) diagnostic criteria, the indication to start preventive treatment, restriction of analgesic medication, and considering the presence of comorbidities. Material and methods: We conducted a cross-sectional survey of actively practising primary care physicians from all over Colombia using an online semi-structured questionnaire, which was completed by general practitioners, paediatricians, gynaecologists, internists, and family medicine specialists. Results: A total of 347 primary care physicians from all the regions of Colombia were surveyed; 23.2% used the ICHD-3 criteria, 49% and 85% were familiar with the Colombian guidelines for starting preventive treatment and limiting analgesic medication overuse, respectively; 61% never considered opioids for acute attacks; and 80% took comorbidities into account in their clinical approach. The compliance index for the main pillars of migraine care was 52%. We found no significant differences when specialty, length of time in practice, age, and area of work were compared. Conclusion: This study suggests that there is limited knowledge about migraine among Colombian primary care physicians. These results are comparable with similar studies conducted around the world. Resumen: Introducción y objetivos: La migraña es una condición prevalente e incapacitante, en la mayoría de los casos atendida en el cuidado primario. De acuerdo a nuestros conocimientos, en Colombia no existe información con respecto al conocimiento de la migraña en este nivel de atención.Determinar la proporción de médicos de atención primaria (MCP) quienes tienen en cuenta los pilares del diagnóstico y tratamiento de la migraña: Uso de los criterios ICHD 3, adherencia a las recomendaciones para iniciar terapia preventiva, indicación de restricción de medicamentos analgésicos junto con consideración de comorbilidades en la práctica clínica de la migraña. Materiales y métodos: Estudio de cohorte transversal. Mediante un cuestionario semiestructurado en línea se entrevistó a MCP laboralmente activos de todo el territorio colombiano, incluyendo médicos generales, pediatras, ginecólogos, internistas y especialistas en medicina familiar. Resultados: Se entrevistaron 347 MCP de todas las regiones de Colombia. El 23,2% utiliza criterios ICHD 3, el 49% y el 85% conocen las pautas de recomendaciones colombianas para iniciar terapia preventiva y limitar el uso excesivo de analgésicos respectivamente, el 61% nunca considera opioides para ataques agudos y el 80% tiene en cuenta las comorbilidades como parte del abordaje clínico. El cumplimiento del índice clínico en la muestra fue del 52%. No encontramos diferencias significativas al comparar especialidades, tiempo de ejercicio, edad y área de trabajo. Conclusión: Este estudio sugiere un conocimiento limitado sobre la migraña en la atención primaria en Colombia, estos resultados son comparables con estudios similares alrededor del mundo.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2667049625000080CefaleaEducaciónICHD 3OpioidesTerapia preventiva
spellingShingle J. Muñoz-Cerón
L. Gallo
D. Gómez-Barrera
The pillars of migraine diagnosis and treatment: Information from primary care physicians in Colombia
Neurology Perspectives
Cefalea
Educación
ICHD 3
Opioides
Terapia preventiva
title The pillars of migraine diagnosis and treatment: Information from primary care physicians in Colombia
title_full The pillars of migraine diagnosis and treatment: Information from primary care physicians in Colombia
title_fullStr The pillars of migraine diagnosis and treatment: Information from primary care physicians in Colombia
title_full_unstemmed The pillars of migraine diagnosis and treatment: Information from primary care physicians in Colombia
title_short The pillars of migraine diagnosis and treatment: Information from primary care physicians in Colombia
title_sort pillars of migraine diagnosis and treatment information from primary care physicians in colombia
topic Cefalea
Educación
ICHD 3
Opioides
Terapia preventiva
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2667049625000080
work_keys_str_mv AT jmunozceron thepillarsofmigrainediagnosisandtreatmentinformationfromprimarycarephysiciansincolombia
AT lgallo thepillarsofmigrainediagnosisandtreatmentinformationfromprimarycarephysiciansincolombia
AT dgomezbarrera thepillarsofmigrainediagnosisandtreatmentinformationfromprimarycarephysiciansincolombia
AT jmunozceron pillarsofmigrainediagnosisandtreatmentinformationfromprimarycarephysiciansincolombia
AT lgallo pillarsofmigrainediagnosisandtreatmentinformationfromprimarycarephysiciansincolombia
AT dgomezbarrera pillarsofmigrainediagnosisandtreatmentinformationfromprimarycarephysiciansincolombia