Table 1.
The interview schedule
| 1. Could you tell me a bit about your headaches? e.g. |
| • How long have you been suffering from headaches? |
| • There all the time/on and off? |
| • Triggers? |
| • Associated features? (e.g. aura, vision problems) |
| • Severity, intensity? |
| 2. How would you say your headaches affect your life? e.g. |
| • Do they stop you from working/carrying out daily duties? |
| • Do they affect your social life? |
| • Do they affect your ability to sleep? |
| • Do they affect your mood? |
| 3. Have you ever been to see your GP about your headaches? |
| YES |
| • What prompted you to go the first time? |
| • How did you feel the first consultation went? |
| • Would you say that you got what you wanted from the consultation? |
| • What would you say makes a consultation good or bad? |
| NO |
| • Why haven't you been to see him/her? |
| • What would prompt you to go? |
| 4. Do you still go to see your GP? |
| YES |
| • Why do you still go? |
| • How do you feel the consultations go now? |
| NO |
| • Why don't you go to see him/her anymore? |
| How important is it to have a diagnosis? |
| 5. Have you ever seen a hospital specialist about your headaches? |
| YES |
| • How did/do you feel the consultation goes? |
| NO |
| • Go to Question 6 |
| 6. Have you ever seen an alternative specialist for your headaches? |
| YES |
| • What prompted you to go the first time? |
| • Were you satisfied with the consultation? |
| • Did you get what you wanted from the consultation? |
| • Do you still see him/her? |
| • Does your GP know you go? |
| NO |
| • Would you ever consider going to see an alternative therapist? |
| 7. What types of medications have you used/do you use to relieve the pain? |
| ≺ Prescribed? |
| ≺ Non-prescribed? |
| ≺ Alternative? (If not, would you consider using them?) |
| Why have you used these? |
| How helpful were they? |
| Why do you take medication e.g. to prevent/treat? |
| 8. What else do you do to relieve your head pain? |
| 9. Do you ever use other means such as self-help groups, the Internet or magazines/newspapers for information or help? |
| 10. Do you feel you know enough about your condition? |
| 11. How well do you feel your condition is managed either by a professional or in terms of self-management? |
| 12. How do you view the future with regard your headaches? |