EHMTI-0313. Factors influencing stigma towards persons with migraine

Introduction

Previously, we demonstrated that stigma towards persons with migraine was comparable in magnitude to stigma towards individuals with epilepsy or panic disorder.

Aim

We sought to measure stigma towards individuals with differing migraine phenotypes versus comparator conditions.

Methods

Subjects were recruited on-line (MTurk), consented, and randomized to assess one of six fictional vignettes:

• 1) a woman with migraine four days/month with zero lost workdays/year (W0)

• 2) a woman with migraine four days/month with two lost workdays/year (W2)

• 3) a man with migraine four days/month with two lost workdays/year (M2)

• 4) a woman with seizures four days/month with two lost workdays/year (E2)

• 5) a woman caring for her invalid husband four days/month with two lost workdays/year (H2)

• 6) a woman with migraine twenty days/month with ten lost workdays/year (W10)

Subjects used sliders from 0 to 100 to answer five questions measuring social distance attitudes (SDA) towards the individual described in the vignette; maximum stigmatizing attitude would be a total SDA score of 500. [Study approved by UBC Office of Research Services.]

Results

3,617 total US subjects ≥19 years old completed the survey (mean age 33.2 years; 51% female).

W2/M2/E2 scores and W0/E2 scores did not differ significantly. Relative to W2/M2, W0 was significantly lower and H2 was significantly higher. W10 was significantly higher than H2.

Conclusions

Among MTurk subjects, stigma towards persons with migraine increased with their absenteeism, but did not vary by gender.

No conflict of interest.