Migraine in Primary Care Advisors

‘MIPCA Learn’ is an educational package prepared by MIPCA to promote and improve headache education for the interested healthcare professional. It is designed to be complementary to the Postgraduate Certificate course on ‘Headache Management in Primary Care run jointly by MIPCA and the University of Central Lancashire (UCLan). This document provides brief details of the website educational modules.

Aims and objectives

‘MIPCA Learn’ consists of seven modules, covering the following areas:

1. Clinical features of migraine and other headaches, covering classification, epidemiology, pathophysiology and burden of illness.
2. Comorbid illnesses associated with migraine, including psychiatric disorders, cardiovascular disorders, epilepsy and other conditions.
3. Diagnosis of headache.
4. Principles for the management of headache in the clinic.
5. Acute treatments for migraine.
6. Preventive treatments for migraine and chronic headaches.
7. A ‘GP Toolkit’ to help in the management of headache in primary care.

After completing the modules, the professional should have the skills to manage most patients with headache in primary care, and to know which patients should be referred for care.

Prior qualifications

Those taking the modules should be healthcare professionals with a professional qualification. GPs, nurses (nurse practitioners and practice nurses) and pharmacists are all eligible. Complementary practitioners are also eligible, if they are accredited by appropriate professional bodies.
No specific knowledge of headache is required to take the modules, beyond that already achieved by the above healthcare professionals.
The modules are not suitable for patients, who can obtain educational materials from other sources, e.g. The Migraine Action Association (www.migraine.org.uk) or The Migraine Trust (www.migrainetrust.org).

Taking the modules

• Each module consists of a series of slides with explanatory text, and is fully referenced to facilitate further study.
• Each module contains a series of 5–10 multiple-choice questions (MCQs), which are within a ‘Quiz’.
• Those wishing to should complete the MCQs, which are scored automatically. People achieving an acceptable standard are able to download a certificate which they can use in their annual appraisals to demonstrate educational achievement.
• Each module is designed to take 30 minutes to 1 hour to complete.

After taking the modules

People who complete all seven modules and who wish to broaden their headache education, to obtain a GP with Special Interest (GPSI) or other specialist post, may wish to undertake the Postgraduate Certificate courses run by MIPCA and UCLan. Further information on these courses can be obtained from the MIPCA website (www.mipca.org.uk) or direct from UCLan (telephone 01772 201201; email cenquiries@uclan.ac.uk; website www.uclan.ac.uk).