Survey of Pharmacy Students’ Awareness of Medication Overuse Headache

Abstract

Medication overuse headache (MOH) is a condition in which excessive analgesic use induces headache. Recent studies have reported that simple advice significantly reduces the number of days patients use analgesics and the frequency of headaches. Pharmacists are expected to support patient self-medication and contribute to the prevention and treatment of MOH. This study was conducted at Doshisha Women’s College of Liberal Arts and Osaka Medical and Pharmaceutical University with the aim of clarifying the current state of pharmacy students’ awareness of MOH and related issues. The survey consisted of 28 items, including true or false, open-ended, and multiple-choice questions on MOH. Of the 341 students who responded, 49.9% had heard of the term MOH, and 84.5% recognized the importance of pharmacists in preventing and mitigating MOH. The correct answer rate for the true or false questions was 78.3%, but only 16.4% of the students responded that their current understanding of MOH allows them to provide care to patients, and only 7.9% reported having learned about ways to support patients with MOH. These findings indicate that the knowledge about MOH is not yet fully connected to patient support. Therefore, opportunities to learn about the practical aspects of pharmacist involvement in MOH management on campus may be limited. In the future, universities may consider providing more structured opportunities for pharmacy students to learn the practical aspects of pharmacist-led patient support.