Nurse Intervention Trial: The Evaluation of Usefulness of a Headache Nurse

Potential patients suitable for this study must have undergone a regular consultation with a neurologist before. This consultation includes neurological and somatic examinations, diagnosis of the type of headache based on medical history, review of a completed headache diary, and any additional conducted examinations. The consultation will also involve an assessment of the possible initiation of preventive treatment. A selection of these patients will be prescribed electronic prescriptions for at least one previously untried type of preventive medication. During the consultation, patients will receive oral and written information about the dosage and expected possible side effects of the preventive medication. Those eligible for beta-blocker initiation will undergo an electrocardiogram (EKG) after the consultation. After completing the consultation, eligible patients will receive written and oral information about the study.

Those who provide consent to participate will, during subsequent registration with the secretaries at the neurological outpatient clinic immediately after the consultation, be randomized to one of two follow-up options (A or B) for further monitoring in the coming months until the scheduled follow-up, set at approximately 3 months, or later if there is a shortage of available appointments.

Group A will be followed up by a headache nurse through telephone consultations on at least two occasions shortly after the initiation of preventive medicine. Participants in this group will be invited to a planned final follow-up appointment after approximately 3 months with a neurologist.

Group B will have patient-managed follow-up with a planned final follow-up appointment after approximately 3 months. Participants will pick up the prescribed medication and contact their general practitioner or the neurological outpatient clinic by a study-specific email if they need advice from a neurologist.