Effects of Online, Asynchronous Education Modules on Migraine Severity and Elimination Diet Use Among Higher Education Students: An Observational, Pilot Feasibility Study

TL;DR

An online education program about migraines and elimination diets helped students improve their knowledge and reduce migraine symptoms, with many adopting dietary changes.

Contribution

This is the first study to explore the feasibility of combining migraine education with an elimination diet in a higher education setting.

Findings

Participants showed significant increases in knowledge about migraines and elimination diets.

57.6% of participants incorporated aspects of the elimination diet into their lives.

There was a potentially clinically significant decrease in migraine symptoms among participants.

Abstract

Background/Objectives: Migraine is a debilitating neurologic disorder with diet-related triggers. No studies exist on education on migraine in conjunction with an elimination diet as a non-pharmacologic management approach. Methods: Higher education students who self-reported migraine were enrolled in this observational, pilot feasibility study. At baseline, participants completed questionnaires on demographics, migraine disability, and their understanding of migraine and an elimination diet. After one month of self-paced, asynchronous, online modules, participants were reassessed on their understanding of migraine and an elimination diet. Two months later, participants completed follow-up questionnaires on migraine disability, whether they implemented components of the diet, and any barriers they encountered. Results: Of 66 students who completed baseline measures, 33 completed the modules and all questionnaires. Of participants who completed the study, 100% found the modules helpful in learning about migraine and an elimination diet; 57.6% incorporated aspects of the elimination diet into their lives. Participants had significant (p < 0.001) increases in knowledge both about migraine and an elimination diet. Participants had a potentially clinically significant decrease (14-point MIDAS drop, p = 0.10) in migraine symptoms after completing the educational intervention, with a greater decrease among participants who implemented the elimination diet. Conclusions: It is feasible to design and implement an education intervention on diet for higher education students, though loss to follow-up was high in this population. The majority of participants who completed the modules adopted aspects of an elimination diet, indicating its feasibility. Further studies with a larger sample size powered to assess the efficacy of this approach are needed.