Evidence map›Paper›PMID 29248887›Full record

SynthesisBMJ open2017

The lived experience of chronic headache: a systematic review and synthesis of the qualitative literature.

Vivien P Nichols, David R Ellard, Frances E Griffiths, Atiya Kamal, Martin Underwood, Stephanie J C Taylor, CHESS team

Open access · goldAbstract readSystematic Review
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Synthesis in BMJ open, 2017. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 36 papers, 5 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
36citing papers in PubMed, 5 pooled it
2.9field-weighted citation impact, top 9% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

36 citing papers in PubMed, 5 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 71 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Partners' Experiences of Chronic Pain: A Qualitative Evidence Synthesis.Journal of clinical psychology in medical settings · 2024
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors at 2 institutions in 1 country.

Vivien P NicholsWarwick Clinical Trials Unit, Division of Health Sciences, Warwick Medical School, University of Warwick, Coventry, UK.
David R EllardWarwick Clinical Trials Unit, Division of Health Sciences, Warwick Medical School, University of Warwick, Coventry, UK.
Frances E GriffithsDivision of Health Sciences, Warwick Medical School, University of Warwick, Coventry, UK.
Atiya KamalWarwick Clinical Trials Unit, Division of Health Sciences, Warwick Medical School, University of Warwick, Coventry, UK.
Martin UnderwoodWarwick Clinical Trials Unit, Division of Health Sciences, Warwick Medical School, University of Warwick, Coventry, UK.
Stephanie J C TaylorComplex Intervention and Social Practice in Health Care Unit, Centre for Primary Care and Public Health, Blizard Institute, Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, Coventry, UK.
CHESS team
University of Warwick · GBQueen Mary University of London · GB

Funding

Department of Health RP-PG-1212-20018Medical Research Council G0501681Medical Research Council G0700452
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectiveTo systematically review the qualitative literature of the lived experience of people with a chronic headache disorder.

backgroundChronic headaches affect 3%-4% of the population. The most common chronic headache disorders are chronic migraine, chronic tension-type headache and medication overuse headache. We present a systematic review and meta-ethnographic synthesis of the lived experience of people with chronic headache.

methodsWe searched seven electronic databases, hand-searched nine journals and used a modified Critical Appraisal Skills Programme checklist to appraise study quality. Following thematic analysis we synthesised the data using a meta-ethnographic approach.

resultsWe identified 3586 unique citations; full texts were examined for 86 studies and 4 were included in the review. Included studies differed in their foci: exploring, patient-centred outcomes, chronic headache as a socially invisible disease, psychological processes mediating impaired quality of life, and the process of medication overuse. Initial thematic analysis and subsequent synthesis gave three overarching themes: 'headache as a driver of behaviour' (directly and indirectly), 'the spectre of headache' and 'strained relationships'.

conclusionThis meta-synthesis of published qualitative evidence demonstrates that chronic headaches have a profound effect on people's lives, showing similarities with other pain conditions. There were insufficient data to explore the similarities and differences between different chronic headache disorders.

Indexed as

AnalgesicsAttitude to HealthHeadache DisordersHumansIllness BehaviorInterpersonal RelationsQualitative ResearchQuality of LifeAnalgesicschronic migrainechronic tension type headachemedication overusepatient viewsqualitative research

Identifiers

PMID29248887
PMCPMC5778309
OpenAlexW2774511170

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.