QUALITY-OF-LIFE AND PRODUCTIVITY IN NURSES REPORTING MIGRAINE

A random sample survey was conducted to determine the prevalence of mi graine in nurses and to study its effect on quality of life and produc tivity. Of the 10 000 nurses sampled, 2949 returned the questionnaire for a response rate of 29.5%. The majority (99%) of respondents were e mployed and worked in hospitals (60%). According to the International Headache Society (IHS) criteria, 17% of the sample (n=495) were classi fied as having migraine. An additional 25% (n=750) suffered severs hea daches but did not meet IHS criteria for migraine, and the remaining 5 8% (n=1704) were classified as not having either migraine or severe he adaches. The migraineurs had significantly reduced work productivity a nd quality of life compared to both the severe headache and the nonmig raine nonsevere headache groups. This study will increase awareness an d sensitivity of the profession to its colleagues who are migraine suf ferers.