Managing of Migraine in the Workplaces: Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices of Italian Occupational Physicians

Abstract

Background and Objectives: Migraine is a debilitating disorder, whose incidence peak in the age group of 30-39 years overlaps with the peak of employment years, potentially representing a significant issue for occupational physicians (OP). The present study was performed in order to characterize their knowledge, attitudes and practices on migraine in the workplaces. Materials and Methods: A convenience sample of 242 Italian OP (mean age 47.8 ± 8.8 years, males 67.4%) participated in an internet-based survey by completing a structured questionnaire. Results: Adequate general knowledge of migraine was found in the majority of participants. Migraine was identified as a common and severe disorder by the majority of respondents (54.0% and 60.0%). Overall, 61.2% of participants acknowledged migraine as difficult to manage in the workplace, a status that made it more likely for OP understanding its potential frequency (Odds Ratio [OR] 3.672, 95% confidence interval [95%CI] 1.526-8.831), or reported previous managing of complicated cases requiring conditional fitness to work judgement (OR 4.761, 95%CI 1.781-2.726). Moreover, professionals with a qualification in occupational medicine (OR 20.326, 95%CI 2.642-156.358), acknowledging the difficult managing of migraine in the workplaces (OR 2.715, 95%CI 1.034-7.128) and having received any request of medical surveillance for migraine (OR 22.878, 95%CI 4.816-108.683), were more likely to recommend specific requirements for migraineur workers. Conclusions: Migraine was recognized as a common disorder, but also as a challenging clinical problem for OP. Participating OP exhibited a substantial understanding of migraine and its triggers, but residual false beliefs and common misunderstanding may impair the proper management of this disorder, requiring improved and specifically targeted interventions.

Keywords: attitudes; job; knowledge; migraine; occupation; practices.

Figure 1

Density plots for: (a) General Knowledge Score (GKS) in 242 Italian occupational physicians participating into the survey; (b) Density plot Risk Perception Score (RPS). Cumulative scores were substantially skewed (D’Agostino–Pearson’s normality test p-value 0.038 and <0.001, respectively). Dotted line represents median value (72.7% and 48.0% for GKS and RPS, respectively).

Figure 2

Number of interventions for migraine as reported by participants having any previous interaction with migraineur workers (No. 159 out of 242 total participants).