The migraine work and productivity loss questionnaire: Concepts and design

Our objectives were to: (1) develop a self-report questionnaire for measuri ng the impact of migraine headache on work; and (2) qualitatively assess as pects of its performance. Two samples of migraine sufferers provided the da ta. Sample 1 (n = 18) participated in a structured discussion group designe d to elicit examples of migraine's on-the-job impact. Sample 2 (n = 11) com pleted a mail survey and participated in in-depth phone interviews. Intervi ews addressed item comprehensibility, consistency of interpretation, the co gnitive processes by which certain answers were generated and response burd en. The participants were currently employed men and women, at least 18 yea rs of age, who met the International Headache Society (IHS) criteria for mi graine headache [1]. Discussion group participants indicated that migraine attacks substantially diminished their job performance. Pain, photophobia, phonophobia, mental impairment and fatigue were perceived as interfering wi th even routine or relatively simple job tasks. The Migraine Work and Produ ctivity Loss Questionnaire, Version 1.0(C) (MWPLQ(C))* was written. Next, i t was assessed in the context of the in-depth interviews. Result indicated that the MWPLQ was comprehended without difficulty, interpreted consistentl y and easy to complete. Thus, qualitative results provide initial support f or the new questionnaire.