Case Reports: The Bottom Of The Hierarchy Of Clinical Evidence Or Complementary To Evidence-Based Medicine?
In this presentation, one of two Julie will present at the 2nd Watson Headache® Institute International Symposium Online, the focus will centre on how recording, discussing with colleagues, and publishing clinical observations as Case Reports are essential to the art of medicine and patient care. In providing detailed descriptions of the symptoms, signs, diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up of an individual patient, case reports reflect clinical experience and support medical progress.
The Experience Of Migraine: Migraineur Perspectives.
Large surveys, for example, the International Burden of Migraine Study (IBMS), the American Migraine Prevalence and Prevention (AMPP) Study, and the Chronic Migraine Epidemiology and Outcomes (CaMEO) study, illustrate that migraine impacts on all domains of life. Whilst aspects such as financial burden, depression, anxiety, worse health-related quality of life are reported and important, these terms describe the result of migraine but do not necessarily express the actual experience of migraine – what does a migraineur really feel as they negotiate an episode?
Dr Julie Walters is an experienced musculoskeletal physiotherapist whose life has been significantly impacted by migraine for over 25 years. By providing a descriptive overview gained from migraineurs reports in an (ethically approved – University of South Australia) survey, Julie aims to fill this gap by diving deeper into the experience of migraine.
Bio
Dr Julie Walters graduated from the Bachelor of Physiotherapy in 2004 and worked in private practice and with elite sports teams in Adelaide, South Australia, before returning to university to complete her PhD. After finishing her PhD in 2011, Julie progressed to become a coordinator of the Graduate Entry Masters program and coordinator of the final year of the undergraduate program at the University of South Australia.
Dr Walter’s research has focused on academic teaching, headache, and the use of placebo in manual therapy research. Furthermore, Julie and the UniSA are collaborating with the Watson Headache® Institute on further projects investigating various aspects of migraine, cluster headache and post-concussion syndrome (post-traumatic headache).
Despite, and throughout 10 years in academia, Julie has maintained a passion for clinical practice, and is currently completing her Masters in Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy at La Trobe University, Melbourne. Recently Dr Walters completed the Level 3, Certified Watson Headache® Practitioner requirements.
Currently, Julie is leading an international cohort of physiotherapists in a case study collaboration to highlight the potential of manual cervical intervention in the treatment of primary headache as a first step in counteracting the belief that the physiotherapist's role is limited to secondary headache only. This pilot study is the first of many planned through the Watson Headache® Institute, a key objective of which is to mentor and support therapists in conducting and publishing research, highlighting their skills in the management of headache-related disorders.
