Dr David Kernick and Dr Katy Munro took education about migraine to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival last year. Here's how it went!
David and I, both GPs with an extended role in migraine and headache disorders, had done several face-to-face informal chats to the public about migraine last year. We are both huge fans of attending the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. So why not combine the two? was our logic. We chose the title "Getting to Grips with Migraine' to reflect the struggle many people have in managing this condition.
Our venue was the Royal Scots Club and we were made very welcome for our four talks which took place at midday or at 5.00pm.
Better information about migraine is needed throughout society
Our goal was to bring evidence-based, holistic advice to anyone interested in migraine management -people with migraine, their families, GPs, pharmacists, other healthcare professionals etc in an informal style. Each event was booked for 1.5 hours but with 30 minutes extra afterwards for more chatting with the speakers after the talk finished. The thirst for information and the variety of questions was huge.
Getting the word out
We designed and printed posters and flyers with help from Katy's actor daughter. These were distributed by email, post and hand-delivery to various sites including the venue, Glasgow Headache clinic, Edinburgh Headache clinic, local Edinburgh GP surgeries and pharmacies, cafes and individuals. Social media may be a mixed blessing but posts and Instagram Live broadcasts on Instagram, Twitter (now X, of course) and Linkedin achieved a greater audience thanks to retweets by influencers e.g Dr Nighat Arif and Dr Louise Newson, and others including Rob Music, Migraine Trust CEO, and Mr Paul Chahidi, actor.
Radio Scotland: I also did a Migraine ‘clinic’ phone-in for Radio Scotland in June and was able to promote the event during the radio interview.
At the venue, we had posters with QR code links to resources, and leaflets from the National Migraine Centre and OUCH charity were available at the venue, as were copies of ‘Managing Your Migraine’, my book.
Accessibility is important
British Sign Language interpreter & Edinburgh Deaf Festival:
Our events coincided with the first Edinburgh Deaf Festival. It was important for accessibility to employ a BSL interpreter who came to interpret the Friday event.
So many topics to cover
Our style was an informal Q & A in a conversational style with audience members able to ask supplementary questions or share their own experiences.
Topics covered were broadly the same each day and included:
- What’s happening in the brain and in the gut
- Migraine as a genetic condition
- Phases of migraine attacks
- Aura
- Multiple symptomatology of migraine.
- Other types of migraine including hemiplegic and vestibular
- Migraine and hormones
- Lifestyle and supplements
- Acute migraine management
- Preventive strategies
- Interventions including medications, injections, neuromodulation
- New anti-CGRP medications
- Neck pain and migraine
- Holistic approaches -mind and body approach
- Migraine in children
- Co-morbidities
- Cluster Headache
We had lovely feedback
Verbal feedback was very positive and appreciative. We also had some lovely written feedback:
“I have never felt so ‘seen’. I’ve always had some denial that it’s just bad headaches but today I feel like a textbook case. Doctors have never tried to help or understand, particularly with comorbid conditions. It would be incredible to get real help. Thank you so much for today.”
“Thank you for such an informative chat. Found all of the avenues covered extremely helpful.”
“Thank you very much. Very informative talk with so many practical tips and links to other resources. Have enjoyed hearing about new treatments and holistic approaches. Would come again and again.”
“Excellent and comprehensive talk integrating all aspects of migraine including triggers, medication and holistic approaches.”
"I learnt so much regarding migraine, Cluster headaches etc. Thank you so much. It was a quick session which flowed well, with great detail and it didn’t feel like 1.5 hours! Thank you!”
“Very worth the time. Full of information I knew and some I didn’t. Excellent speakers and very much wish that my GP was as informed!”
“Thank you. I came for a friend but found it so helpful both for migraine and chronic health/complex diagnoses/preventative/other treatments etc. I have one of my children with Chronic fatigue, on ‘sensitive person’ spectrum and I do think migraine is part of the picture but complex.”
We know there is a huge need for better understanding of migraine and other headache disorders in all areas of society and this is one enjoyable way of spreading the word and engaging people who need better information.
Maybe we'll see you this summer in Edinburgh! We were warmly invited to return and you can find us in the Royal Scots Club this year on August 16th and 17th. Book your tickets here!
For more information about our BASH GP Group and useful resources, click here
Dr Katy Munro, BASH Secretary
Senior Headache Specialist & host of Heads Up podcast
National Migraine Centre
