Migraine therapy: Development and testing of a patient preference questionnaire

Objectives.-To develop and test a patient preference questionnaire in migra ine. Methods.-A user-friendly, self-administered questionnaire was developed to assess the relative importance of aspects of migraine therapy to patients. It was tested in a convenience sample of 66 migraineurs. The questionnaire has five sections: patient preference, migraine history, demographics, usua l behavior during an attack, and migraine impact on cognition and functiona lity. It employs a special reverse-ranking technique to quantify preference s. Results.-Sixty-six migraineurs participated: 86% were women, 53% had not co nsulted their doctor about migraine in the previous year; and only 51% took prescribed medication, the majority (52%) at the start of a migraine. "A m edication that can be taken any time during a migraine attack" was ranked m ost important by 20% of the migraineurs, one that decreases pain from the u nbearable level in 30 minutes by 17%, and one that relieves pain completely within 2 hours by 15%. Not being able to think or concentrate with severe symptoms was reported by 71%. Optional activities were impeded by migraine in 83% of subjects, but required activities in only 60%. Conclusions.-The patient preference questionnaire is readily completed by s ubjects and reveals that the dimensions of relief preferred by patients can be addressed by a self-report questionnaire.