Abstract Details

Title The state of headache medicine education in North America: An observational, survey-based study of neurology clerkship directors and curriculum deans.

Topic Research Methodology, Education, and History

Presentation(s) Research Methodology and Education Posters (7:00 AM-5:00 PM)

Poster/Presentation
Number 005

Background

A large disparity exists between the number of physicians trained in headache medicine and the number of patients with headache disorders. Early exposure to headache medicine during medical school is crucial to address this disparity, yet the current status of headache education in North American medical schools is unknown.

Objective

To describe the current headache medicine education paradigm in North American medical schools, and determine barriers to implementing headache education.

Design/Methods

A 20-item survey aiming to determine the status of headache medicine education was distributed via email to the neurology clerkship director, curriculum dean, or similar at each North American MD or DO medical school. Target respondents were identified using the AAN Clerkship Directory, the AAMC and AACOM Organization Directories, searches of institutional websites, and phone calls and emails to administrators as needed.

Results

85% of respondents reported that their institution has at least one mandatory headache session, with 73% holding a session pre-clerkship and 74% having a session during clerkship. 65% of respondents felt the pre-clinical headache curriculum prepares their students for clerkships, and 55% felt that students were learning enough about headache medicine at their institution. Identified barriers to headache medicine education included insufficient time, lack of administrative support in curriculum development, lack of student interest, and lack of available resources. Many respondents indicated that case-based learning modules and online lectures would be most helpful to improve headache education.

Conclusions

The majority of respondents report incorporating a range of topics in headache into preclinical and clinical curricula, though 45% felt their students did not learn enough about headache. Challenges in optimizing curricula exist, and barriers include lack of administrative support and available education resources. Future work aimed at designing a standardized headache medicine curriculum for use across medical schools could address these barriers and improve headache education.

Authors/Disclosures
Anna Pace, MD (Mount Sinai School of Medicine) PRESENTER	Dr. Pace has received personal compensation in the range of $10,000-$49,999 for serving as a Consultant for Abbvie. Dr. Pace has received personal compensation in the range of $500-$4,999 for serving as a Grand Rounds Speaker/Conference speaker with American Headache Society. Dr. Pace has received personal compensation in the range of $0-$499 for serving as a Conference speaker with American Academy of Neurology.
Serena Orr, MD (University of Calgary)	The institution of Dr. Orr has received research support from Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute. The institution of Dr. Orr has received research support from Canadian Institutes of Health Research. The institution of Dr. Orr has received research support from Department of Pediatrics, University of Calgary. Dr. Orr has received publishing royalties from a publication relating to health care. Dr. Orr has a non-compensated relationship as a associate editor with Headache: The Journal of Head and Face Pain that is relevant to AAN interests or activities. Dr. Orr has a non-compensated relationship as a editorial board member with Neurology that is relevant to AAN interests or activities. Dr. Orr has a non-compensated relationship as a editorial board member with American Migraine Foundation that is relevant to AAN interests or activities.
Joseph E. Safdieh, MD, FAAN (Weill Medical College of Cornell University)	Dr. Safdieh has received personal compensation in the range of $50,000-$99,999 for serving as an Editor, Associate Editor, or Editorial Advisory Board Member for AAN. Dr. Safdieh has received personal compensation in the range of $5,000-$9,999 for serving as an Expert Witness for Dughi, Hewit & Domalewski, P.C.. Dr. Safdieh has received publishing royalties from a publication relating to health care.
Noah Rosen, MD, FAAN	Dr. Rosen has received personal compensation for serving as an employee of Northwell Health. An immediate family member of Dr. Rosen has received personal compensation for serving as an employee of New York University. Dr. Rosen has received personal compensation in the range of $10,000-$49,999 for serving as a Consultant for Allergan/ Abbvie. Dr. Rosen has received personal compensation in the range of $5,000-$9,999 for serving as a Consultant for Eli Lilly. Dr. Rosen has received personal compensation in the range of $500-$4,999 for serving as a Consultant for Lundbeck. Dr. Rosen has received personal compensation in the range of $10,000-$49,999 for serving as a Consultant for Pfizer . Dr. Rosen has received personal compensation in the range of $10,000-$49,999 for serving on a Speakers Bureau for Allergan/ Abbvie. Dr. Rosen has received personal compensation in the range of $0-$499 for serving as an Editor, Associate Editor, or Editorial Advisory Board Member for Springer. Dr. Rosen has received personal compensation in the range of $500-$4,999 for serving as a Speaker with American Headache Society.
	No disclosure on file
Adam S. Sprouse-Blum, MD (University of Vermont)	Dr. Sprouse-Blum has received personal compensation in the range of $500-$4,999 for serving as a Consultant for Impel Neuropharma. Dr. Sprouse-Blum has received personal compensation in the range of $5,000-$9,999 for serving as a CME presenter with American Headache Society.