Quality indicators in headache care: an implementation study in six Italian specialist-care centres
Abstract Background Headache disorders are highly prevalent, and have a substantial and negative impact on health worldwide. They are largely treatable, but differences in structure, objectives, organization and delivery affect the quality of headache care. In order to recognize and remedy deficienc...
Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , |
---|---|
Format: | Article |
Language: | English |
Published: |
BMC
2017-05-01
|
Series: | The Journal of Headache and Pain |
Subjects: | |
Online Access: | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s10194-017-0762-x |
id |
doaj-73bf3b6eb3a34b5f9c8a4fd1a45aef08 |
---|---|
record_format |
Article |
spelling |
doaj-73bf3b6eb3a34b5f9c8a4fd1a45aef082020-11-25T00:20:52ZengBMCThe Journal of Headache and Pain1129-23691129-23772017-05-011811910.1186/s10194-017-0762-xQuality indicators in headache care: an implementation study in six Italian specialist-care centresL. Pellesi0S. Benemei1V. Favoni2C. Lupi3E. Mampreso4A. Negro5M. Paolucci6T. J. Steiner7M. Ulivi8S. Cevoli9S. Guerzoni10Medical Toxicology - Headache Centre, Policlinic Hospital, University of Modena and Reggio EmiliaDepartment of Health Sciences, Section of Clinical Pharmacology and Oncology, University of FlorenceIRCCS Institute of Neurological Sciences of Bologna, Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences DIBINEM, University of BolognaDepartment of Health Sciences, Section of Clinical Pharmacology and Oncology, University of FlorenceDepartment of Neurosciences, Headache Centre, University of PaduaDepartment of Clinical and Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Sant’Andrea HospitalHeadache Centre, Neurology Unit, University Campus Bio-MedicoDepartment of Neuromedicine and Movement Science, NTNU Norwegian University of Science and TechnologyHeadache Centre, Neurology Unit, University Campus Bio-MedicoIRCCS Institute of Neurological Sciences of BolognaMedical Toxicology - Headache Centre, Policlinic Hospital, University of Modena and Reggio EmiliaAbstract Background Headache disorders are highly prevalent, and have a substantial and negative impact on health worldwide. They are largely treatable, but differences in structure, objectives, organization and delivery affect the quality of headache care. In order to recognize and remedy deficiencies in care, the Global Campaign against Headache, in collaboration with the European Headache Federation, recently developed a set of quality indicators for headache services. These require further assessment to demonstrate fitness for purpose. This is their first implementation to evaluate quality in headache care as a multicentre national study. Methods Between September and December 2016, we applied the quality indicators in six Italian specialist headache centres (Bologna, Firenze, Modena, Padova, Roma Campus Bio-Medico and Roma Sapienza). We used five previously developed assessment instruments, translated into Italian according to Lifting The Burden’s translation protocol for hybrid documents. We took data from 360 consecutive patients (60 per centre) by questionnaire and from their medical records, and by different questionnaires from their health-care providers (HCPs), including physicians, nurses, psychologists and nursing assistants. Results The findings, comparable between centres, confirmed the feasibility and practicability of using the quality indicators in Italian specialist headache centres. The questionnaires were easily understood by HCPs and patients, and were not unduly time-consuming. Diagnoses were almost all (> 97%) according to ICHD criteria, and routinely (100%) reviewed during follow-up. Diagnostic diaries were regularly used by 96% of physicians. Referral pathways from primary to specialist care existed in five of the six clinics, as did urgent referral pathways. Instruments to assess disability and quality of life were not used regularly, a deficiency that needs to be addressed. Conclusion This Italy-wide survey confirmed in six specialist centres that the headache service quality indicators are fit for purpose. By establishing majority practice, identifying commonalities and detecting deficits as a guide to quality improvement, the quality indicators may be used to set benchmarks for quality assessment. The next step is extend use and evaluation of the indicators into non-specialist care.http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s10194-017-0762-xHeadache disordersHeadache careService quality evaluationBenchmarkingGlobal Campaign against Headache |
collection |
DOAJ |
language |
English |
format |
Article |
sources |
DOAJ |
author |
L. Pellesi S. Benemei V. Favoni C. Lupi E. Mampreso A. Negro M. Paolucci T. J. Steiner M. Ulivi S. Cevoli S. Guerzoni |
spellingShingle |
L. Pellesi S. Benemei V. Favoni C. Lupi E. Mampreso A. Negro M. Paolucci T. J. Steiner M. Ulivi S. Cevoli S. Guerzoni Quality indicators in headache care: an implementation study in six Italian specialist-care centres The Journal of Headache and Pain Headache disorders Headache care Service quality evaluation Benchmarking Global Campaign against Headache |
author_facet |
L. Pellesi S. Benemei V. Favoni C. Lupi E. Mampreso A. Negro M. Paolucci T. J. Steiner M. Ulivi S. Cevoli S. Guerzoni |
author_sort |
L. Pellesi |
title |
Quality indicators in headache care: an implementation study in six Italian specialist-care centres |
title_short |
Quality indicators in headache care: an implementation study in six Italian specialist-care centres |
title_full |
Quality indicators in headache care: an implementation study in six Italian specialist-care centres |
title_fullStr |
Quality indicators in headache care: an implementation study in six Italian specialist-care centres |
title_full_unstemmed |
Quality indicators in headache care: an implementation study in six Italian specialist-care centres |
title_sort |
quality indicators in headache care: an implementation study in six italian specialist-care centres |
publisher |
BMC |
series |
The Journal of Headache and Pain |
issn |
1129-2369 1129-2377 |
publishDate |
2017-05-01 |
description |
Abstract Background Headache disorders are highly prevalent, and have a substantial and negative impact on health worldwide. They are largely treatable, but differences in structure, objectives, organization and delivery affect the quality of headache care. In order to recognize and remedy deficiencies in care, the Global Campaign against Headache, in collaboration with the European Headache Federation, recently developed a set of quality indicators for headache services. These require further assessment to demonstrate fitness for purpose. This is their first implementation to evaluate quality in headache care as a multicentre national study. Methods Between September and December 2016, we applied the quality indicators in six Italian specialist headache centres (Bologna, Firenze, Modena, Padova, Roma Campus Bio-Medico and Roma Sapienza). We used five previously developed assessment instruments, translated into Italian according to Lifting The Burden’s translation protocol for hybrid documents. We took data from 360 consecutive patients (60 per centre) by questionnaire and from their medical records, and by different questionnaires from their health-care providers (HCPs), including physicians, nurses, psychologists and nursing assistants. Results The findings, comparable between centres, confirmed the feasibility and practicability of using the quality indicators in Italian specialist headache centres. The questionnaires were easily understood by HCPs and patients, and were not unduly time-consuming. Diagnoses were almost all (> 97%) according to ICHD criteria, and routinely (100%) reviewed during follow-up. Diagnostic diaries were regularly used by 96% of physicians. Referral pathways from primary to specialist care existed in five of the six clinics, as did urgent referral pathways. Instruments to assess disability and quality of life were not used regularly, a deficiency that needs to be addressed. Conclusion This Italy-wide survey confirmed in six specialist centres that the headache service quality indicators are fit for purpose. By establishing majority practice, identifying commonalities and detecting deficits as a guide to quality improvement, the quality indicators may be used to set benchmarks for quality assessment. The next step is extend use and evaluation of the indicators into non-specialist care. |
topic |
Headache disorders Headache care Service quality evaluation Benchmarking Global Campaign against Headache |
url |
http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s10194-017-0762-x |
work_keys_str_mv |
AT lpellesi qualityindicatorsinheadachecareanimplementationstudyinsixitalianspecialistcarecentres AT sbenemei qualityindicatorsinheadachecareanimplementationstudyinsixitalianspecialistcarecentres AT vfavoni qualityindicatorsinheadachecareanimplementationstudyinsixitalianspecialistcarecentres AT clupi qualityindicatorsinheadachecareanimplementationstudyinsixitalianspecialistcarecentres AT emampreso qualityindicatorsinheadachecareanimplementationstudyinsixitalianspecialistcarecentres AT anegro qualityindicatorsinheadachecareanimplementationstudyinsixitalianspecialistcarecentres AT mpaolucci qualityindicatorsinheadachecareanimplementationstudyinsixitalianspecialistcarecentres AT tjsteiner qualityindicatorsinheadachecareanimplementationstudyinsixitalianspecialistcarecentres AT mulivi qualityindicatorsinheadachecareanimplementationstudyinsixitalianspecialistcarecentres AT scevoli qualityindicatorsinheadachecareanimplementationstudyinsixitalianspecialistcarecentres AT sguerzoni qualityindicatorsinheadachecareanimplementationstudyinsixitalianspecialistcarecentres |
_version_ |
1725365293995261952 |