What is the "FUJITSU Headache Project"?! Headache education that deepened understanding of headaches for 80% of employees. Acquiring correct knowledge about headaches to create a healthy and easy-to-work-in workplace.

Hello! This is Sato from Fujitsu Public Relations.
This time, I would like to talk about Fujitsu's initiatives regarding headaches.

At Fujitsu, we position human resources as our most important capital. Since 2019, we have been implementing projects such as cancer, headache, and lower back pain prevention, as well as bone health promotion, to create an environment where all employees can work energetically in both mind and body and achieve well-being.

The prevalence of migraines is high throughout Japan, and many people suffer from pain, which leads to a decline in productivity and QOL (Quality of Life). On the other hand, there is a tendency in society, including among patients themselves, to downplay headaches, and the fact that appropriate measures and treatments are not being taken is considered a major problem.

Therefore, in 2018, as part of a joint research project between the International Headache Society, the World Health Organization, and the Japanese Headache Society, Fujitsu conducted a "Survey on the Degree of Impairment to Work Due to Chronic Headaches in the Workplace" within the company. The results showed that 85% of the approximately 2,500 domestic employees surveyed were aware of having headaches. Furthermore, 84% of them had no experience of receiving treatment. In addition, it was found that the economic loss incurred by Fujitsu due to absenteeism and decreased performance caused by headaches is an average of 100,000 yen per year per employee with chronic headaches (260,000 yen per year for migraines), which amounts to 2.6 billion yen per year when converted to all employees, equivalent to approximately 1% of the total annual salary paid to all employees. It also became clear that the health-related QOL scale* of employees with chronic headaches is lower than the Japanese national average, and that the degree of impairment to work and life due to headaches is more serious than expected. This led Fujitsu to work on the "FUJITSU Headache Project," which provides programs related to headache countermeasures such as headache seminars and headache consultations.

*Health-related QOL scale: A quantification of the impact that a disease or treatment has on a patient's subjective sense of health (mental health, vitality, pain, etc.) and their daily work, housework, family life, leisure, and social activities.

Based on the results of this joint research, Fujitsu, in collaboration with the International Headache Society's Global Patient Advocacy Coalition (GPAC) and the Japanese Headache Society, developed various programs for the "FUJITSU Headache Project" starting in fiscal year 2019. To acquire correct knowledge about headaches, we started with e-Learning implemented from October 2020 for approximately 80,000 domestic Fujitsu Group employees (as of 2020), and also conducted video seminars for headache patients, online headache consultations with specialists, and headache exercises. Through these initiatives, we are working to improve work productivity and QOL by alleviating headaches, and are promoting the creation of a workplace where headache patients can work with peace of mind.

According to a survey conducted after the e-Learning, 70.6% of employees answered that "I think headaches are a disease that significantly hinders daily life," an increase of 23.8% compared to before taking the course. 76.9% of employees answered that "I think my way of interacting with people who have headache symptoms will change" (among those who did not select this, there were comments that they were already being considerate of people with headache symptoms). In addition, regarding the implementation of this e-Learning, comments were received such as "I felt it was very useful for teaming and individual performance" and "I am grateful for the promotion of understanding throughout the company because the pain of headaches is difficult for those around me to understand." In the headache consultations, we provided headache diagnosis through interviews and guidance on how to live with headaches, and the number of days that employees who received consultations experienced headache symptoms decreased by approximately 3 days.

In March 2022, Fujitsu's initiatives regarding headaches were recognized, andwe were certified as the world's first global leader in headache countermeasure programs by the International Headache Society's Global Patient Advocacy Coalition.

Since then, Fujitsu has continued the "FUJITSU Headache Project" and has published the verification results of the penetration of understanding and improvement of awareness regarding chronic headaches at academic conferences and other venues. Fujitsu's initiatives are highly regarded not only in Japan but also overseas, and it is expected that they will spread as a Fujitsu model. Through this, we hope to contribute to improving the productivity of working people and the well-being of society as a whole, not just for Fujitsu Group employees.

Here, we would like to introduce a message from Dr. Hisayoshi Igarashi of the Fujitsu Health Promotion Division (in charge of the Fujitsu Clinic Headache Outpatient Department, headache specialist/instructor, and occupational physician).

The Japanese Headache Society and the Japanese Headache Association have designated February 22nd as "Headache Day" every year, and are developing various awareness-raising activities so that patients with headaches can receive appropriate understanding and support from those around them. Since green is considered a friendly color for migraine patients, we have been conducting various green campaigns. For example, we who are involved in headache medicine wear a green ribbon as a mark on "Headache Day" so that those suffering from headaches can easily approach us. We also created a poster for "Headache Day" based on green, and in 2023, Kumamoto Castle was lit up in green.

Headaches are a familiar symptom that occurs in many people, and they are ranked 4th every year as a subjective symptom in stress checks by domestic Fujitsu Group employees. In an epidemiological survey conducted in 2018 targeting some domestic Fujitsu Group employees (2,500 people), 85% were aware of having headaches.

Although we say "headache," there are many different types, and while some appear as symptoms of dangerous, life-threatening diseases, most are what are called primary headaches, such as migraines and tension-type headaches. Primary headaches occur repeatedly, so they often hinder daily life and work, and it has been shown that migraines, in particular, are the disease with the second longest years lived with disability (years spent in a less-than-ideal state of health) after lower back pain. However, many people did not visit medical institutions even if they had headaches, due to assumptions such as "it will be fine if I take over-the-counter medicine," "it will get better if I sleep for one night," or "it is not a disease," or because they did not know which department or facility to visit. Also, because symptoms are not easily visible, it is difficult to gain understanding from those around them, which is one of the factors why headaches are downplayed and appropriate measures and treatments are not taken.

Because of this, Fujitsu launched the "FUJITSU Headache Project" as part of its health management, and as a result of trying to deepen employees' understanding of headaches, the number of consultations regarding headaches from employees increased. In headache consultations from employees, we diagnose the type and cause of the headache, and provide guidance on lifestyle improvements and exercise for each patient to improve their headaches. If necessary, we introduce headache specialists in various regions so that they can receive continuous treatment and guidance. In a survey conducted 6 months after the consultation, a decrease in the number of days with headache symptoms and a reduction in pain were observed. In addition, comments were received from employees who visited the clinic, such as "I didn't know that headaches could be cured, but for the first time, I was able to know the cause of my headache and how to deal with it."

Fujitsu Clinic has a headache outpatient department on Mondays and Tuesdays by appointment only. People other than Fujitsu employees can also visit, so if you are suffering from headaches, please visit the headache outpatient department and regain your healthy daily life.

Dr. Igarashi will be on stage as the chairperson, and Dr. Masako Yokoyama, an occupational physician at the Fujitsu Health Promotion Division, will give a lecture.
February 22 (Thu) 19:00-20:00 Online
The 4th "Migraine Control College" Headache Day Special Talk Event "The Real Pain of Migraines" Held (amgen.co.jp)
Certified headache specialists discuss worries and control methods for migraines

*On February 22, 2024, we added information about the speakers for the talk event (held on 2/22).

Related Links
・Health Well-being (Fujitsu Group Health Declaration)