Group sessions reduce specialty care visits for migraines

AUSTIN, Texas — Specialty office visits for chronic migraine were significantly reduced in individuals who participated in a group telemedicine program, according to research presented at the American Headache Society’s annual meeting.

“We have headache groups that meet once a month and they provide a session with a physical therapist, an occupational therapist and give [patients] a way to cope and learn to deal with their migraine,” Jennifer Jung, MD, a resident at Los Angeles General Medical Center, told Healio. “We also have one-on-one sessions where we have physical exams and refill meds.”

Jung and colleagues collected information via electronic health records regarding baseline health care utilization for patients with chronic migraines who received care at LA General.

Patients selected to participate were invited to join a monthly online group in which education about migraines, group discussions and personalized visits were available.

Compared with patients receiving standard care for migraine, there was a significant mean reduction in specialty care visits in those who participated in the group (2.3 vs. 1.06.; P = .04).

LA General Medical Center is a safety-net hospital in which a large percentage of patients are part of underrepresented socioeconomic groups, according to Jung. Group visits are a cost-neutral option that could improve access to care.

“Essentially this is trying to meet people before they have to go to the ED because of unrelenting migraines,” Jung said. “It’s a matter of giving patients the attention they deserve and you can even do it in a safety-net system as long as you find resourceful ways like group activities.”