Abstract
ObjectiveTo assess the quality of the therapeutic approach in Specialized Headache Units in Spain.MethodsAn observational (prospective) study was conducted. Anonymized data of 313 consecutive patients during a defined period of time were analyzed and a comparison of performance in 13 consensual quality indicators between Specialized Headache Units and neurology consultations was calculated. Specialized Units and neurology consultations represented the type of provision that Spaniards receive in hospitals.ResultsThe consensus benchmark standard was reached for 8/13 (61%) indicators. Specialized Headache Units performed better in the indicators, specifically in relation to accessibility, equity, safety, and patient satisfaction. Patients attended in Specialized Headache Units had more complex conditions.ConclusionAlthough there is variability among Specialized Headache Units, the overall quality was generally better than in traditional neurology consultations in Spain.
Highlights
Headache is a very common health problem that requires an effective and coordinated response from healthcare provision, both from Primary Care and by Specialized Headache Units in hospitals.Diagnostic criteria and recommended treatment guidelines have been established [1, 2], in clinical daily practice there seems to be great differences in how the response to headache is organized by the different health systems
With the participation of the European Headache Federation (EHF) a study was carried out to identify the dimensions in the quality of care for headache patients that ought to be taken into consideration
The greatest variability in the indicators analyzed (Table 3) was observed in the percentage of patients diagnosed with primary chronic headache attending the Emergency Room (CEF1), with primary headache without repetition of neuroimaging studies (CEF8), with non-recommended symptomatic treatment (CEF9), Table 3 Results in the indicators analyzed in each of the participating Specialized Headache Units
Summary
Headache is a very common health problem that requires an effective and coordinated response from healthcare provision, both from Primary Care and by Specialized Headache Units in hospitals.Diagnostic criteria and recommended treatment guidelines have been established [1, 2], in clinical daily practice there seems to be great differences in how the response to headache is organized by the different health systems. On March 2004, the Global Campaign against Headache [3] was launched, spearheaded by the Lifting the Burden (LtB) organization along with the World Health Organization, which laid the foundations for international collaboration in order to reduce the fragmentation of organizational, diagnostic and therapeutic approaches throughout the world and, in Europe [4]. Within this cooperation framework, with the participation of the European Headache Federation (EHF) a study was carried out to identify the dimensions in the quality of care for headache patients that ought to be taken into consideration. A proposal of quality indicators was established that, in total, comprised 30 indicators grouped into 9 dimensions, ranging from equipment and infrastructure to assessment of the cost of the care mechanism
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