Improving Headache Care through Specialized Education: A Cross-Sectional Global Perspective

Headache disorders affect 40% of the global population but remain underdiagnosed and undertreated. Limited access to specialized care highlights the need for structured educational programs to improve healthcare professionals’ expertise. This study evaluated the impact of a 2 year academic program, the Master of Headache Disorders (MHD) from the University of Copenhagen on graduates’ careers, clinical engagement, and educational needs. An anonymous online survey was sent to 88 MHD graduates (2018–2024), assessing career trajectories, clinical involvement, and academic experiences. Eighty respondents (91% response rate) from 36 countries participated. Most were female (63%), aged 35–44 (43%), and from diverse professional backgrounds: neurologists (52.5%), nurses (12.5%), physiotherapists (6.25%), pharmacists (1.25%), osteopaths (3.75%), neurosurgeons (1.25%), odontologists (2.5%), and others (16.25%). After graduation, 69% remained active in headache care and 90% regularly disseminated headache knowledge (38% monthly, 24% weekly). Career advancement was reported by 96%, with 47% receiving salary increases. Additionally, 28% of master’s theses led to clinical or research projects, 7% were published, and 23% planned publication. Structured headache education fosters professional growth, clinical engagement, and global knowledge dissemination. Expanding access to such programs may help reduce the global headache burden. Further studies should assess long-term clinical outcomes.