Healthcare provider–patient communication and migraine assessment: results of the American Migraine Communication Study, phase II

ABSTRACT Objective: The American Migraine Communication Study I (AMCS I) revealed communication deficits illustrated by differing healthcare professional (HCP) and patient reports about issues such as impairment and frequency. AMCS II was designed to assess an intervention using open-ended questions about impairment and ’ask-tell-ask‚ sequences to confirm headache frequency in days versus attacks. Research design and methods: HCPs who participated in AMCS I completed an internet-based intervention. Researchers were sent to HCPs' offices, and patients likely to discuss migraine were recruited immediately prior to normally-scheduled appointments. Post-consent, visits were recorded without a researcher present. Separate post-visit interviews were conducted with all parties. All interactions were transcribed. Main outcome measures: Transcripts were analyzed using validated sociolinguistic techniques, and study results were compared to AMCS I. Results: HCPs assessed impairment in 90 % of interactions compared to 10 % in AMCS I (p