Digital Technology and Mobile Health in Behavioral Migraine Therapy: a Narrative Review

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11916- 018- 0718- 0

Abstract-Summary This article reviews the recent research and development of electronic health (eHealth) and, in particular, mobile health (mHealth) strategies to deliver behavioral treatment for migraine.

990

5 Future Directions

Prospects for future development and research of mobile health in migraine are

suggested.

Within mHealth, headache diaries are the most researched and scientifically

developed.

Digital technology and mobile health has not yet lived out its potential in behav-

ioral migraine therapy.

Application of proper usability and functionality designs towards the right mar- ket, together with appraisal of medical and technological recommendations, may facilitate rapid development of eHealth and mHealth, while also establishing scien- tific evidence.

Extended: The aim of this narrative review is to highlight the available recent research and development of eHealth and, in particular, mHealth for migraine, and suggest prospects for future research and development.

Introduction Migraine is prevalent and according to the 2015 Global Burden of Disease Study, the number one cause of neurologic disability, and the second most common cause of years lived with disability [366].

eHealth and mHealth represent new means for delivering prophylactic behav-

ioral interventions for migraine.

Of this decade several researchers praised the potential of eHealth and mHealth

for delivering behavioral treatments [367–370].

The aim of this narrative review is to highlight the available recent research and development of eHealth and, in particular, mHealth for migraine, and suggest pros- pects for future research and development.

Methods The bulk of available mHealth in migraine includes headache diaries [344].

The authors of the review conducted a study to develop a headache diary app for adolescents and young adult migraine suffers, while applying an iterative and incre- mental design to optimize the usability and psychometric properties of the diary [371].

A South Korean study from 2016 [372] evaluated the use of a smartphone head-

ache diary app for detecting migraine trigger factors.

Using this study, as an example of how appropriate applied telemedicine may be acceptable and efficient, it is tempting to envision effective mass delivery of eHealth and mHealth behavioral therapy to the vast amount of migraine sufferers.

Several studies have been conducted within other fields of health care that may be used as examples and inspiration for usability development of behavioral mHealth therapies in migraine [373–376].

Conclusion eHealth and mHealth for behavioral treatments of migraine has been a promising field for long.

Some aspects of mHealth in migraine have been explored, but there is a gap between commercially available apps and scientifically validated and devel- oped apps.

5.3

Tele-Medicine

991

Migraine researchers should draw inspiration from other fields when developing

new eHealth and mHealth solutions.

Acknowledgement A machine generated summary based on the work of Stubberud, Anker; Linde, Mattias 2018 in Current Pain and Headache Reports.

Optimizing telemedical care in neurological outpatients by characterizing the patients’ needs in the physician–patient relationship—content analysis of guideline- based interviews