why choose us

300×250 Ad Slot

Research Article: Migraine care in the digital era: social listening insights and neurologists’ perspectives from Türkiye

Date Published: 2026-09-14

Abstract:
To explore migraine-related concerns expressed in user-generated digital entries from a Turkish online health platform and contextualize them through neurologists’ expert perspectives. Background: Digital platforms may shape symptom interpretation, treatment expectations, and communication; however, social-listening findings require cautious interpretation given platform-related and methodological limitations. This exploratory study combined secondary interpretation of a pre-existing proprietary Kimola social-listening report with a survey of 10 neurologists with headache expertise. The report included analytical outputs from 2,500 migraine-related user-generated entries posted on Doktorsitesi.com between 2007 and 2023. Because raw entries, preprocessing records, and coding files were unavailable to the authors, findings were interpreted descriptively as source-report outputs. Neurologist responses were summarized as raw counts and narratively contextualized with entry-derived themes, without formal mixed-methods integration. According to the source report, entries were categorized into four migraine-journey stages: pre-treatment, treatment phase, disease experience, and post-treatment. These stages reflected symptom interpretation and diagnostic uncertainty, treatment effectiveness and safety concerns, broader disease burden, and discontinuation or interest in non-oral, procedural, or complementary options after treatment. In the survey, 7 of 10 neurologists agreed or strongly agreed that many people with migraine use social media for migraine-related information, and 9 of 10 agreed or strongly agreed that misinformation complicates physician–patient communication. Among digitally engaged platform users, migraine-related entries revealed unmet information needs and treatment-related concerns. Neurologists highlighted the need for expert-led, evidence-based digital education. Although exploratory and not statistically generalizable, these findings may inform communication and digital education strategies in migraine care.

Introduction:
Migraine is a highly prevalent and disabling neurological disorder, affecting more than one billion individuals worldwide and ranking among the leading causes of years lived with disability, particularly in young adults and women under the age of 50 ( 1 – 3 ). Despite this substantial burden, migraine remains underdiagnosed and undertreated, reflecting persistent gaps in timely diagnosis, access to appropriate care, optimal treatment, and patient education ( 1 , 4 , 5 ). These gaps contribute not only to impaired…

Read more

300×250 Ad Slot