Evidence map›Paper›PMID 34840790›Full record

ArticleBritish journal of pain2021

'A cry in the dark': a qualitative exploration of living with cluster headache.

Laura Andre, Debbie Cavers

Open access · greenAbstract read
In one paragraph

Article in British journal of pain, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
0.3field-weighted citation impact, top 40% 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

0 citing papers in PubMed, 4 citations in OpenAlex.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

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

2 authors at 2 institutions in 1 country.

Laura AndreHealth in Mind, Edinburgh, UK.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2306-4635
Debbie CaversMedical School, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.
Mind · GBUniversity of Edinburgh · GB

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

contextCluster headache is a rare primary headache disorder said to be one of the most painful conditions in existence. Limited evidence demonstrates cluster headache patients have difficulties securing a diagnosis and poor access to services. There is a gap in research around psychosocial needs, meaning there are no evidence-based guidelines to inform optimal management of this patient group in primary care.

objectivesThe aim of this study is to explore the perspectives of cluster headache patients in the United Kingdom in order to suggest ways their care can be improved.

methodsIt is an in-depth qualitative study involving telephone interviews with 15 participants with either chronic or episodic cluster headache. Semi-structured interviews (43-58 minutes) were conducted, recorded and transcribed verbatim. Two researchers conducted thematic analysis to identify themes.

resultsParticipants described the impact cluster headache has on their quality of life. They also felt the legitimacy of their disorder was questioned. This situation was often exacerbated by a reported lack of awareness among General Practitioners (GPs), which negatively impacted their care in terms of diagnosis and access to treatments and specialists. They attempted to control the pain through treatments and avoiding triggers, often with detrimental consequences for their social contact and mental health.

conclusionFindings indicate the need to improve the lived experience of cluster headache patients in two key areas: (1) raising awareness of the disorder and its impact among GPs, and (2) extending care beyond clinical treatment provision, supporting patients in self-management and addressing its psychosocial impact, with implications for the management of this group in primary care.

Indexed as

cluster headacheGeneral practicepatient experienceprimary headachequalitative research

Identifiers

PMID34840790
PMCPMC8611293
OpenAlexW3108984185

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
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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.