Headache, Outpatient management and referral to Specialty Clinics, clinical Audit

Abstract

Background: Headache is one of the most common presenting symptom for patients attending the outpatient clinics. The key stone in primary management of cases presented with headache, and then subsequent proper referral to specialty clinics, depends on careful history taking and clinical examination. Objective: The aim of this audit is to get a comprehensive idea about patients presented with headache in the Outpatient Department (OPD) clinics including patients age, gender, primary management and subsequent referral to specialty clinics in Hatta hospital. So we can reevaluate and improve our clinical approach in dealing with patients having headache. Method: This study is a retrospective study based on hospital settings and was conducted in 2015 over one year in Hatta hospital, Dubai. We collected information about patients who attended the OPD with headache as the primary complaint. Results: One hundred eighty patients above the age of 4 years were selected. Females patients were 125(69.4%) while males were 55(30.6%).The age of most patients suffering from headache range from 15 – 40 years. Hypertension was found in 20 cases, while diabetes mellitus was diagnosed in 6 cases. Radiological studies (Plain X‐ray and/or Computerized Tomography) were done in 114 patients (63.3%). Most common causes of headache encountered in this study were tension headache, migraine and sinusitis. Conclusion: The history and clinical examinations usually permit a definitive diagnosis for patients with headache. Radiological and blood investigations were overused in assessment of patients. Change of life style is important as part of management plan.