"It's a balance between letting it influence life completely and not letting it influence life at all" - a qualitative study of migraine prevention from patients' perspective

• Purpose: The aim of this study was to elucidate migraine prevention from a patient perspective. Method: Twenty-one participants who suffered from migraine were interviewed and the data analysed by means of qualitative content analysis. Results: The analysis revealed two categories; Avoiding migraine triggers and introducing migraine inhibiting strategies. In both categories, decisions were influenced by an appraisal of the advantages versus disadvantages, attitudes, support and knowledge. An overarching theme: “migraine prevention from the patients’ perspective is a balance between letting it influence life completely and not letting it influence life at all” was identified from the interviews. Conclusions: As migraine is a chronic disorder that cannot be cured, merely relieved, prevention is of great importance. The present study highlights migraine prevention from the patients’ perspective and the important issue of how much prevention is allowed to influence life. Either of the directions involves a risk that life can be controlled by migraine. Acceptance of the disease and allowing migraine prevention to influence life to some degree can be a way of regaining control.

Ämnesord

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Hälsovetenskap -- Omvårdnad (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Health Sciences -- Nursing (hsv//eng)

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Klinisk medicin -- Neurologi (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Clinical Medicine -- Neurology (hsv//eng)

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Medicinska och farmaceutiska grundvetenskaper -- Neurovetenskaper (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Basic Medicine -- Neurosciences (hsv//eng)

Nyckelord

Experiences

headache

migraine

prevention

prophylaxis

chronic daily headache

patients perceptions

chronic illness

fear-avoidance

self-efficacy

of-life

prophylaxis

management

burden

pain

Publikations- och innehållstyp

ref (ämneskategori)

art (ämneskategori)