A migraine is a type of chronic headache characterized by severe pain, nausea, vomiting, and other symptoms, and anxiety experienced during interictal periods also affects patients’ quality of life. However, consultation rates with doctors or specialists remain low. This study aimed to identify factors influencing medical consultation and examine the role of pharmacists. A questionnaire survey was conducted among 600 people in their 20s to 40s who regularly experience headaches. All respondents were divided into two groups: the Doctor-visited
group (those who had visited a medical institution at least once) and the Non-doctor-visited group (those who had never visited a medical institution). The Doctor-visited group contained significantly more migraine sufferers (p < 0.001) and was significantly more likely to have consulted a pharmacist (p < 0.001). Among those in the Doctor-visited group who consulted a pharmacist, only 34% cited pharmacist’s advice as the reason for visiting a doctor. The main reasons for not consulting a doctor included self-assessing their headache as “mild,” “usual,”
or “temporary.” Respondents’ Headache Impact Test and Migraine Interictal Burden Scale showed a high correlation. However, some respondents did not seek professional support even when their headaches were highly disruptive, indicating that severity does not solely determine their decision to visit a medical institution. These results suggest that pharmacists should actively support patients’ decision-making by assessing their headache disruptiveness and promoting appropriate medical utilization.