KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDE, AND PRACTICE TOWARDS MIGRAINE PREVENTION AMONG MEDICAL STUDENTS IN SIALKOT, PAKISTAN

Abstract

Migraine is a major cause of disability in young adults, especially medical students, due to the academic stress and lifestyle-related factors. This study aims to assess knowledge, attitude, and practices regarding migraine prevention among medical students. A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted using convenience sampling among 300 students at Sialkot Medical College between January 15 and March 15, 2026. Data was collected using a structured, pretested questionnaire and was analyzed using IBM SPSS Statistics version 27. The associations between demographics and KAP responses were assessed using Pearson's chi-square test. Awareness regarding hormonal risk factors (93.7%) and trigger avoidance (99.3%) was high, whereas knowledge of caffeine reduction (37.0%) and prophylactic medications (61.3%) was comparatively low. Although 94.3% showed willingness to adopt lifestyle modifications, 40.7% reported choosing paracetamol without medical consultation for recurrent headaches. The findings highlight gaps between migraine prevention knowledge and healthcare-seeking practices, emphasizing the need for targeted educational interventions among medical students.