Triptans utilization in Italian population: A real-life study in community pharmacies.
The term Headache Disorders (HD) refers to a number of nervous system pathologies characterised by recurrent headaches. Despite the serious impact HD have on the health system, society, and the economy, these are an underestimated, underdiagnosed, and, hence, undertreated phenomenon. Triptans are th...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Public Library of Science (PLoS)
2023-01-01
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| Series: | PLoS ONE |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0291323 |
| _version_ | 1797682712844173312 |
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| author | Francesca Baratta Gianni Allais Roberto Gnavi Cecilia Scarinzi Lorenzo Ravetto Enri Sara Rolando Teresa Spadea Giuseppe Costa Chiara Benedetto Massimo Mana Mario Giaccone Andrea Mandelli Gian Camillo Manzoni Gennaro Bussone Paola Brusa |
| author_facet | Francesca Baratta Gianni Allais Roberto Gnavi Cecilia Scarinzi Lorenzo Ravetto Enri Sara Rolando Teresa Spadea Giuseppe Costa Chiara Benedetto Massimo Mana Mario Giaccone Andrea Mandelli Gian Camillo Manzoni Gennaro Bussone Paola Brusa |
| author_sort | Francesca Baratta |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The term Headache Disorders (HD) refers to a number of nervous system pathologies characterised by recurrent headaches. Despite the serious impact HD have on the health system, society, and the economy, these are an underestimated, underdiagnosed, and, hence, undertreated phenomenon. Triptans are the first-line therapy for the acute treatment of moderate to severe migraine but their utilization is still inadequate, perhaps also because in Italy no triptan can be bought without a medical prescription. In this article, the data from a 2016-2017 study has been further analysed with the aim of evaluating any associations between the use of triptans and the other series of variables identified in the questionnaire. This further analysis has been connected to the role that community pharmacies could play on this issue. The questionnaire was administered to 4,424 pharmacy users by 610 purposely trained pharmacists working in 514 pharmacies. The survey was carried out in 19 of the 20 Italian regions. The data shows that only 25% of patients suffering from HDs are prescribed triptans. Older patients, those with definite migraines, and those with a chronic disorder resort more frequently to this class of pharmaceuticals, as do those patients in care at a specialist headache centre. The multivariable analysis also confirmed these results. Our study, which performed a direct detection, in real life, on patients requesting pharmacological treatment for a migraine headache, therefore confirmed the need to investigate the reasons behind the low use and prescription of triptans in the Italian population. Moreover, any future studies should take advantage of community pharmacies, plan actions that would allow a series of evaluations over time of the requirements of migraineurs, and establish a process to put these patients under the care of the pharmacy to ensure adherence to therapy. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-12T00:03:50Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-118a632e0c814cd89da5d8dc4ccb6101 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1932-6203 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-12T00:03:50Z |
| publishDate | 2023-01-01 |
| publisher | Public Library of Science (PLoS) |
| record_format | Article |
| series | PLoS ONE |
| spelling | doaj.art-118a632e0c814cd89da5d8dc4ccb61012023-09-17T05:31:15ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLoS ONE1932-62032023-01-01189e029132310.1371/journal.pone.0291323Triptans utilization in Italian population: A real-life study in community pharmacies.Francesca BarattaGianni AllaisRoberto GnaviCecilia ScarinziLorenzo Ravetto EnriSara RolandoTeresa SpadeaGiuseppe CostaChiara BenedettoMassimo ManaMario GiacconeAndrea MandelliGian Camillo ManzoniGennaro BussonePaola BrusaThe term Headache Disorders (HD) refers to a number of nervous system pathologies characterised by recurrent headaches. Despite the serious impact HD have on the health system, society, and the economy, these are an underestimated, underdiagnosed, and, hence, undertreated phenomenon. Triptans are the first-line therapy for the acute treatment of moderate to severe migraine but their utilization is still inadequate, perhaps also because in Italy no triptan can be bought without a medical prescription. In this article, the data from a 2016-2017 study has been further analysed with the aim of evaluating any associations between the use of triptans and the other series of variables identified in the questionnaire. This further analysis has been connected to the role that community pharmacies could play on this issue. The questionnaire was administered to 4,424 pharmacy users by 610 purposely trained pharmacists working in 514 pharmacies. The survey was carried out in 19 of the 20 Italian regions. The data shows that only 25% of patients suffering from HDs are prescribed triptans. Older patients, those with definite migraines, and those with a chronic disorder resort more frequently to this class of pharmaceuticals, as do those patients in care at a specialist headache centre. The multivariable analysis also confirmed these results. Our study, which performed a direct detection, in real life, on patients requesting pharmacological treatment for a migraine headache, therefore confirmed the need to investigate the reasons behind the low use and prescription of triptans in the Italian population. Moreover, any future studies should take advantage of community pharmacies, plan actions that would allow a series of evaluations over time of the requirements of migraineurs, and establish a process to put these patients under the care of the pharmacy to ensure adherence to therapy.https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0291323 |
| spellingShingle | Francesca Baratta Gianni Allais Roberto Gnavi Cecilia Scarinzi Lorenzo Ravetto Enri Sara Rolando Teresa Spadea Giuseppe Costa Chiara Benedetto Massimo Mana Mario Giaccone Andrea Mandelli Gian Camillo Manzoni Gennaro Bussone Paola Brusa Triptans utilization in Italian population: A real-life study in community pharmacies. PLoS ONE |
| title | Triptans utilization in Italian population: A real-life study in community pharmacies. |
| title_full | Triptans utilization in Italian population: A real-life study in community pharmacies. |
| title_fullStr | Triptans utilization in Italian population: A real-life study in community pharmacies. |
| title_full_unstemmed | Triptans utilization in Italian population: A real-life study in community pharmacies. |
| title_short | Triptans utilization in Italian population: A real-life study in community pharmacies. |
| title_sort | triptans utilization in italian population a real life study in community pharmacies |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0291323 |
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