Is a digital platform useful in headache training? A 4-year Italian experience

Excerpt

It is very important for specialists to have an adequate training for the management of headaches, considering the burden of this disease that has been underestimated for its impact and for the difficulty of its treatment; in fact epidemiological, clinical, and treatment data suggest that its management is far from being optimal [1]. The increasing development of digital instruments (digital platforms, web sites, social networks, etc.) seems to be a great help, but is it really true? Our recent study has pointed out that, after 2 years of experience, a digital platform, even if free and easy to use, does not stimulate the active management of headaches; the study has also shown that there is no difference in its use between headache specialists and other specialists [2]. Considering the great development of these instruments and the common opinion about their utility and importance, we were surprised by these results. Some possible explanations may be (1) unlike the common thought, a social network on headaches does not affect the interested scientific community; (2) the increasing use of smartphones and WhatsApp groups makes the use of a PC platform more obsolete and less attractive; (3) more time is needed to become familiar with these new technologies; (4) a digital platform dedicated to headache is probably less interesting than platforms dedicated to other disorders. …