The effectiveness of Orem's self-care program on headache-related disability in migraine patients

Background: Providing a self-care program appropriate for patient needs in a supportive educative nursing system format could reduce migraine-induced disability. This study was designed to determine the effectiveness of Orem's self-care program on headache related disability in migraine patients. Methods: In this randomized clinical trial, episodic migraine patients with or without aura who signed the informed consent were randomly assigned to two groups (44 patients each). The data collection tools included a demographic questionnaire, the Migraine Disability Assessment (MIDAS) questionnaire, an Orem cognition form, and a self-care checklist. The programs were held as four 30 to 45 minutes training sessions for experimental group. The MIDAS were filled out before and three months after program in two groups. Data were analyzed with SPSS statistical software, version 16 and using chi-square, Mann-Whitney and Wilcoxon tests. Results: There was no statistically significant difference between the two groups in terms of demographic variables (P > 0.05). The mean total MIDAS score in the experimental group, before and after the intervention was 28.1 +/- 17.5 and 6.03 +/- 4.52, respectively (P = 0.001); and for the control group, it was 37.6 +/- 16.4 and 55.6 +/- 14.5, respectively (P < 0.001). Also, there was a statistically significant difference in disability indices between the two groups after the intervention (P < 0.001). Conclusion: Self-care program was suitable for needs assessment and provided basis for acquiring positive results in order to decrease disability and saved patient treatment costs.