Background: Headache calendars are part of good clinical practice in headache clinics. However, patients’ compliance is rather variable. We aim to identify factors associated with poor compliance.
Methods: Consecutive patients observed in follow-up visits of a tertiary headache center were divided into two groups; with a fullfilled calendar (Calendar compliers, CC) and without calendar (Calendar noncompliers, CNC). Incomplete / forgotten records were excluded. Demographic and clinical variables were compared, and CNC were asked the reasons for not filling the calendar.
Results: From 93 patients (45.6±13.3 years, on average; 83 females), the majority with migraine (96.8%), 61.3% were CC. CNC were more likely to have medication overuse (34.5% vs. 12.3%, p=0.01) and had a tendency to be paid workers (79.3% vs. 52.6%, p=0.05) compared to CC. Most CC considered calendars useful to improve doctors and patients knowledge about headaches.
Conclusions: Although these results need to be evaluated in other contexts, they suggest that patients with medication overuse have a more denial attitute towards headache records and may need additional reinforcement.