Headache Hygiene in Pediatrics: Brushing Up on the Basics

Rebecca Barmherzig; Ana Marissa Lagman-Bartolome; Sara Marlowe; Sara Ahola Kohut; Gillian Gunn; Heather Olivieri; Janice Mulligan; Kelsie Grundy-Bozinis; Jonathan Gladstone; Christine Lay; Daune MacGregor

doi:10.1016/j.pediatrneurol.2019.10.002

Headache Hygiene in Pediatrics: Brushing Up on the Basics

Pediatr Neurol. 2020 Feb:103:3-7. doi: 10.1016/j.pediatrneurol.2019.10.002. Epub 2019 Nov 1.

Affiliations

¹ Division of Neurology, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Center for Headache, Women's College Hospital, The University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Electronic address: r.barmherzig@mail.utoronto.ca.
² Division of Neurology, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Center for Headache, Women's College Hospital, The University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
³ Department of Social Work, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
⁴ Department of Psychiatry, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
⁵ Division of Neurology, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
⁶ Department of Psychiatry, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Gladstone Headache Clinic, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Toronto Rehabilitation Institute, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Cleveland Clinic Canada, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

PMID: 31843350
DOI: 10.1016/j.pediatrneurol.2019.10.002

Abstract

Headache hygiene refers to self-management behaviors and practices aimed at reducing headache-related disability and improving self-efficacy. Although self-management interventions have an established place in the management of a wide range of chronic conditions, there is still not a standardized approach to this in pediatric headache. In this article, we focus on headache hygiene approaches including education, lifestyle interventions, and psychologic interventions. We also present our center's resource compilation, made available to patients by quick response code technology, as an example of a structured approach to headache hygiene. Further work should explore a standardized approach to headache hygiene and strategies to support adherence, including the use of technology as an innovative health care delivery pathway.

Keywords: Education; Headache hygiene; Migraine; Nonpharmacologic treatment; Self-management.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Adolescent
Child
Health Behavior*
Humans
Migraine Disorders / therapy*
Psychotherapy*
Self Efficacy*
Self-Management*