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Living with migraine : A meta-synthesis of qualitative studies

Battista, Simone LU orcid ; Lazzaretti, Arianna ; Coppola, Ilaria ; Falsiroli Maistrello, Luca ; Rania, Nadia and Testa, Marco (2023) In Frontiers in Psychology 14. p.1-20
Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Migraine is one of the top ten causes of disability worldwide. However, migraine is still underrated in society, and the quality of care for this disease is scant. Qualitative research allows for giving voice to people and understanding the impact of their disease through their experience of it. This study aims at synthesising the state of the art of qualitative studies focused on how people with migraine experience their life and pathology.

METHODS: MEDLINE via PubMed, EMBASE, CINAHL, PsycINFO, and Cochrane Library were consulted up to November 2021 for qualitative studies. Studies to be eligible had to focus on adults (age > 18 years) with a diagnosis of primary episodic or chronic migraine following the... (More)

INTRODUCTION: Migraine is one of the top ten causes of disability worldwide. However, migraine is still underrated in society, and the quality of care for this disease is scant. Qualitative research allows for giving voice to people and understanding the impact of their disease through their experience of it. This study aims at synthesising the state of the art of qualitative studies focused on how people with migraine experience their life and pathology.

METHODS: MEDLINE via PubMed, EMBASE, CINAHL, PsycINFO, and Cochrane Library were consulted up to November 2021 for qualitative studies. Studies to be eligible had to focus on adults (age > 18 years) with a diagnosis of primary episodic or chronic migraine following the International Classification of Headache. The quality of the study was analysed using the CASP (Critical Appraisal Skills Programme) tool. The synthesis was done through a thematic analysis. CERQual (Confidence in Evidence from Reviews of Qualitative research) approach was used to assess the confidence in retrieved evidence.

RESULTS: Ten studies were included, counting 262 people with migraine. Our synthesis produced four main themes. (1) "Negative impact of migraine symptoms on overall life" as migraine negatively impacts people's whole life. (2) "Impact of migraine on family, work and social relationship" as migraine reduces the possibility to focus at work and interact with people. (3) "Impact of migraine on emotional health" as people with migraine experience psychological distress. (4) "Coping strategies to deal with migraine" such as keep on living one's own life, no matter the symptoms.

CONCLUSIONS: Migraine negatively impacts people's whole life, from private to social and work sphere. People with migraine feel stigmatised as others struggle with understanding their condition. Hence, it is necessary to improve awareness among society of this disabling condition, and the quality of care of these people, tackling this disease from a social and health-policy point of view.

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author
; ; ; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
in
Frontiers in Psychology
volume
14
article number
1129926
pages
1 - 20
publisher
Frontiers Media S. A.
external identifiers
  • scopus:85153375401
  • pmid:37057143
ISSN
1664-1078
DOI
10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1129926
language
English
LU publication?
yes
additional info
Copyright © 2023 Battista, Lazzaretti, Coppola, Falsiroli Maistrello, Rania and Testa.
id
2019616e-c0a0-4395-bc0f-80f265f3dcf5
date added to LUP
2023-04-18 14:24:15
date last changed
2024-06-29 03:08:38
@article{2019616e-c0a0-4395-bc0f-80f265f3dcf5,
  abstract     = {{<p>INTRODUCTION: Migraine is one of the top ten causes of disability worldwide. However, migraine is still underrated in society, and the quality of care for this disease is scant. Qualitative research allows for giving voice to people and understanding the impact of their disease through their experience of it. This study aims at synthesising the state of the art of qualitative studies focused on how people with migraine experience their life and pathology.</p><p>METHODS: MEDLINE  via PubMed, EMBASE, CINAHL, PsycINFO, and Cochrane Library were consulted up to November 2021 for qualitative studies. Studies to be eligible had to focus on adults (age &gt; 18 years) with a diagnosis of primary episodic or chronic migraine following the International Classification of Headache. The quality of the study was analysed using the CASP (Critical Appraisal Skills Programme) tool. The synthesis was done through a thematic analysis. CERQual (Confidence in Evidence from Reviews of Qualitative research) approach was used to assess the confidence in retrieved evidence. </p><p>RESULTS: Ten studies were included, counting 262 people with migraine. Our synthesis produced four main themes. (1) "Negative impact of migraine symptoms on overall life" as migraine negatively impacts people's whole life. (2) "Impact of migraine on family, work and social relationship" as migraine reduces the possibility to focus at work and interact with people. (3) "Impact of migraine on emotional health" as people with migraine experience psychological distress. (4) "Coping strategies to deal with migraine" such as keep on living one's own life, no matter the symptoms.</p><p>CONCLUSIONS: Migraine negatively impacts people's whole life, from private to social and work sphere. People with migraine feel stigmatised as others struggle with understanding their condition. Hence, it is necessary to improve awareness among society of this disabling condition, and the quality of care of these people, tackling this disease from a social and health-policy point of view.</p>}},
  author       = {{Battista, Simone and Lazzaretti, Arianna and Coppola, Ilaria and Falsiroli Maistrello, Luca and Rania, Nadia and Testa, Marco}},
  issn         = {{1664-1078}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  pages        = {{1--20}},
  publisher    = {{Frontiers Media S. A.}},
  series       = {{Frontiers in Psychology}},
  title        = {{Living with migraine : A meta-synthesis of qualitative studies}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1129926}},
  doi          = {{10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1129926}},
  volume       = {{14}},
  year         = {{2023}},
}