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CHESS

Chronic Headache Education and Self-management Study (CHESS) is a five year programme of work leading to a multi-centre, randomised controlled trial evaluating a self-management support programme for people living with chronic headaches.  The programme is funded by the National Institute for Health Research, and led by Professor Martin Underwood at the Clinical Trials Unit, University of Warwick. 

 

The first phase of the programme is a feasibility study and will start recruitment in September 2015. We aim to recruit 170 participants aged ≥18 years with chronic headaches from 6-10 practices in Coventry and Warwickshire.

 

What will it involve for participants?

 

  • Participants will be asked to complete a headache symptom diary (electronically or paper version) of headache frequency, duration and severity, weekly for 3 months

  • Questionnaires will be sent at baseline, two weeks and three months

    • Participants will complete a brief telephone interview with a nurse to support classification of the three common chronic headache disorders; migraine, tension type and medication overuse
      • A sub-sample of participants will be asked to pilot a new group self-management intervention for the management of common chronic headache disorders
        • A sub-sample of participants will be asked to take part in interviews about their experience living with chronic headaches

         

        What will it involve for GP practices?

         

        • Identification and screening of eligible patients

        • Mail-out of study invitation letters

        • Access to patient records for data collection of consultations, health service activity, and medication use related to headaches

         

        If your practice is interested in taking part, or you would like to find out more please contact Rachel Potter r.potter@warwick.ac.uk , phone: 02476 528204