Care Pathway for the Management of Episodic Tension-type Headaches
Aim to understand the patient’s beliefs and expectations about headaches and address any misunderstandings (e.g., headaches are caused by serious pathology) or apprehension through education and reassurance.
Educate and reassure the patient about the benign and self-limited nature of the headaches and reinforce the importance of maintaining activities of daily living. Example Script.
No
No
No
Yes
Management of Symptoms
Based on shared decision making between the patient and provider, any one of the following therapeutic interventions is recommended:
Yes
Yes
No
Discharge
Yes
Yes
Discharge
No