[Attitudes of spanish primary care doctors to migraine].

OBJECTIVES

To find the attitude of Spanish primary care (PC) doctors to migraine, their ability to solve the problem and the therapy guidelines used.

DESIGN

Transversal, descriptive study by means of a questionnaire sent out by mail.

SETTING

PC doctors in Spain.

PARTICIPANTS

A total of 721 PC doctors from all the health services.

MAIN MEASUREMENTS

Approach, specialist referral, therapy preferences, and interest in training were measured through the questionnaire.

RESULTS

Of the 1185 doctors to whom the questionnaire was sent out, 721 replied (60.8%); 69.8% showed very great or great interest in migraines; 12.2% referred to a specialist the first episode of migraine without aura; and 42.3%, of migraine with aura. The 32.3% referred the first episode of daily chronic migraine; and 56%, when linked to analgesic abuse. Paracetamol is the preferred medication for 61.2% of doctors in treating light migraine; NSAIDs are for 63.9% in moderate migraine; and tryptans are for 88.1% in severe cases. In pressure migraine, NSAIDs are preferred by 38%. Over 75% stated great or very great interest in training.

CONCLUSIONS

Interest in migraines is high. There is considerable room for improvement in the capacity to solve certain kinds of migraines, especially chronic daily migraines. Some therapeutic guidelines are questionable. This, alongside the interest of doctors in training, points to the appropriateness of conducting training on this question.