Online Journal of Rural Nursing and Health Care (Jun 2017)

Access to Biofeedback Therapy for Women Suffering from Headache in Rural Wyoming

  • Dawn Peters,
  • Mary Beth Stepans

DOI
https://doi.org/10.14574/ojrnhc.v2i2.463
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 2, no. 2
pp. 7 – 30

Abstract

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Biofeedback is an effective treatment for chronic headaches but is poorly utilized by those living in rural areas. An exploratory qualitative study was conducted to determine the barriers and benefits to seeking biofeedback therapy for women experiencing chronic headache pain while living in rural areas. In-depth individual interviews were employed. Barriers identified were numerous. Seven barriers identified were travel, time, lack of knowledge, skepticism, lack of referral by health care provider, difficulty relaxing, and pharmacologic therapy was already working. The two benefits identified were that biofeedback perceived as a natural therapy and is good for relaxation. Health care providers need to work toward eliminating barriers to biofeedback for rural women since it is a treatment of choice for migraine and tension type headaches. Keywords: rural, women, biofeedback http://dx.doi.org/10.14574/ojrnhc.v2i2.463