SELF-MANAGEMENT EDUCATION FOR ADOLESCENTS WITH HEADACHES: A PILOT STUDY

Abstract

Headache disorders affect around 25% of children in North America and are one of the most frequent health complaints. Pediatric headache disorders are associated with impairments in daily functioning, sleep problems and increased rates of anxiety and depression. Self-management plays an important role in chronic disease. In adults with headache disorders, self-management education has successfully improved self-efficacy. However, to our knowledge, no studies have evaluated this in a pediatric population. A pre-post comparison pilot study was conducted to evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of the protocol and intervention, including an assessment of the informed consent form, eligibility criteria, data collection method, recruitment rate, retention rate, and participant satisfaction. Participant-reported outcomes were collected to preliminarily evaluate changes in self-efficacy two weeks after attending an in-person, 90-minute, theory-guided headache self-management education session. Changes in behaviour related to sleep, caffeine intake, physical activity, and diet were also assessed. Seventy-five individuals met eligibility criteria and 37 signed informed consent, for a recruitment rate of 49%. Thirty participants received the intervention and 24 completed all the follow-up questionnaires, for a retention rate of 80%. Only 13 responses to the feedback survey were received, however, all responses were very satisfied. Headache self-efficacy increased following the intervention, while chronic illness self-efficacy was unchanged. The most common behavioural change was consuming less caffeine, followed by physical activity, diet, and sleep. Information from this pilot study can be used to refine the intervention, assess recruitment potential, and conduct a larger scale observational or randomized controlled trial.