Experience of treatment of chronic migraine with botulinum toxin type A among aesthetic medicine professionals in Poland.

[INTRODUCTION] This study aimed to evaluate the knowledge and standard of treatment of chronic migraine with botulinum toxin by Polish aesthetic medicine professionals.

[RATIONALE FOR THE STUDY] Onabotulinum toxin A injections are used as a preventive treatment for chronic migraine. Besides neurologists, healthcare professionals of multiple specialisms can offer this treatment. Aesthetic medicine professionals commonly use the treatment to extend the scope of their practice. This may bring about a situation wherein physicians with different levels of experience and training are providing botulinum toxin injections for chronic migraine.

[MATERIAL AND METHODS] An online survey asking about patient qualification procedures, the level of adherence to the PREEMPT paradigm, product-, technique-, dosing-, and treatment intervals-related aspects of the treatment, efficacy evaluation practices and concerns about the use of botulinum toxin in chronic migraine was sent to 110 Polish physicians practicing aesthetic medicine.

[RESULTS] The response rate was 73.6%. The results of the survey revealed multiple deviations from the current paradigm of treatment of chronic migraine with botulinum toxin, from improper patient qualification through treatment procedure to the evaluation of the efficacy. Only around one-third of professionals evaluated the observed effectiveness of therapy as very good. Most respondents wanted to expand their knowledge and skills in chronic migraine treatment.

[CONCLUSIONS] There is a considerable willingness among aesthetic medicine specialists to treat patients with chronic migraine with botulinum toxin. The current levels of knowledge and skills in this treatment are limited, and multiple physicians declared deviations from the diagnostic criteria and the therapeutic protocol. Transferring aesthetic medicine practices to neurology treatment is common and may result in a lack of effectiveness of treatment or even intensification of symptoms. An appropriate educational programme should be implemented for all physicians authorised to administer BoNT-A in Poland.