Abstract
In order to promote education on headache disorders, European Headache Federation (EHF) in conjunction with National Headache Societies organizes educational courses meeting uniform standards according to previous published guidelines. Based on six headache summer schools’ experience, an EHF subcommittee has reviewed these guidelines, and here the revised version is presented. The goals remain the same: quality courses that will attract physicians and neurologists seeking to increase their knowledge, skills, and understanding in the area of primary and secondary headache. Detailed guidelines, a day-to-day program, and a multiple-choice test battery have now been outlined. It is recommended to include practical sessions with patient interviews and hands-on demonstrations of non-pharmacological treatment strategies. For countries that want a ‘low cost’ education program, a Video School program of a similar scientific standard has been developed. To be certified for CME credits, patronage, and financial support from EHF, it is highly recommended to adhere to the suggested teaching strategies. We hereby aim to promote and professionalize the education in headache disorders and endorse the educational courses meeting uniform standards of excellence.
Keywords: Education, Europe, Headache
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Conflict of interest
None.
Appendix 1: Checklist of European Headache Federation requirements for the organization of a teaching course on headache
Title of the teaching course:
Date:
City:
Chairman of the scientific committee:
Institution:
E-mail/fax:
Congress venue:
Number of participants:
Parallel sections:
Number of foreign lecturers:
Duration of the course:
Duration of the lectures:
Daily practical/theoretical teaching:
Telematic media:
Application for CME-points:
Multiple-choice evaluation test:
Handout material requested:
Official language:
Guidelines provided with course material:
Preliminary program submitted:
Diploma:
Budget:
Notes:
Appendix 2: Sample format of a 3-day headache course:
Local organization for the study of headache in conjunction with European Headache Federation presents:
Title of the course
International school on headache and related disorders
Venue, city
Day 1–3 month, year
Day 1
08.30–10.30 Introduction to headaches
08.30 Welcome and test
08.45 Classification of Headache
09.00 Epidemiology and burden of headache
09.30 Taking the headache history with patient demonstrations (group sessions)
10.30–11.00 Coffee break
11.00–13.00 Migraine I
11.00 Classification of migraine
11.30 Pathophysiology of migraine
12.00 Clinical picture of migraine
12.30 Complications of migraine
13.00 Lunch
14.30–16.30 Migraine II
14.30 Patient or video-case demonstrations
15.30–16.00 Comorbidities of migraine
15.30–16.00 Acute drug treatment
16.30–17.00 Coffee break
17.00–18.00 Prophylactic drug treatment
Day 2
08.30–10.30 Tension-type headache (TTH)
08.30 Classification and clinical picture of TTH
09.00 Epidemiology and burden of TTH
09.30 Pathogenesis of TTH
10.00 Comorbidities of TTH
10.30–11.00 Coffee break
11.00–13.00 Tension-type headache II
11.00 Pharmacological treatment of TTH
11.30 Non-pharmacological treatment of TTH
12.00 Temporomandibular dysfunction and headache
12.30 Medication-overuse headache
13.00–14.00 Lunch
14.30–16.30 Various I
14.30 Patient or video-case demonstrations
15.00 Cervicogenic and other secondary headaches
15.30 Headache in the emergency department
16.00–16.30 Coffee break
16.30–18.00 Various II
16.30 Other primary headaches
17.00 Cranial neuralgias
17.30 Which examinations in headache
Day 3
8.30–10.30 Trigeminal autonomic cephalalgias (TACs)
08.30 Epidemiology and classification of TACs
09.00 Pathogenesis of TACs
09.30 Clinical picture of TACs with patient or video-case demonstration
10.00 Pharmacological treatment of TACs
10.30–11.00 Coffee break
11.00–13.00 TACS II and other
11.00 Paroxysmal hemicrania and other TAC’s: clinical picture, differential diagnosis, and treatment
11.30 Post-traumatic headache, high and low pressure headaches in relation to other secondary headaches: clinical picture, differential diagnosis, and treatment
12.30–13.30 Lunch
14.00–16.30 Various III
14.00 Headache in the elderly: diagnosis and treatment
14.30 Headache in children: diagnosis and treatment
15.00 Headache and reproductive life
15.30–16.30 Test and evaluation
Appendix 3: EHF responsibilities
Complete list of headache schools participants, programs, tests, diplomas, and applications for CME grants will be kept in EHF available for future organizers.
EHF intends to sponsor the registration and accommodation of a maximum of ten European doctors, and a maximum of 2–3 doctors from each country.
A headache school subcommittee, consisting of three members from the EHF executive committee (including the treasurer), evaluates the EHF-grant applications independently of the organizers.
The EHF grant is maximum 600 Euros per person and is restricted to cover registration, and accommodation up to three nights during the Headache School. No economical support is provided for transportation expenses.
The EHF is not responsible for the administrative issues connected with the organization of the Headache school. The economical support is granted, provided the criteria are satisfied.
The EHF grant should only be reimbursed from EHF after the Headache School and after the participation has been confirmed by the organizers. The reimbursement should be directed from EHF to the organizers, not to the individuals.
A complete review of the summer schools, the test results, and evaluations should be kept in EHF available for future organizers, and a summary should be available on the EHF website [6] and in the EHF news [6].
Footnotes
On behalf of the European Headache Federation.
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