Patient satisfaction with a neurological specialist consultation for headache.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate patient satisfaction with a specialist consultation for headache and thus identify subgroups of headache patients more satisfied than others.


METHODS
A survey of consecutive patients referred to a neurologist for headache.


METHODS
Neurological outpatient clinics in North Norway.


METHODS
We included 889 consecutive patients referred to a specialist centre for headache during a period of 2 years. Using a questionnaire, we recorded patients' satisfaction with the potential treatment initiated by the specialist.


RESULTS
Sixty-three percent of migraine patients (95% CI, 0.58 to 0.68) were satisfied with the consultation, compared to 44% of patients with non-migrainous headache (95% CI, 0.40 to 0.70), (p = 0.01). Altogether 481 patients had some kind of measure recommended by the neurologist, and 317 of these (66%) were satisfied (95% CI, 0.62 to 0.70). Patients with tension-type headache and those who were not prescribed specific treatment modalities were less satisfied.


CONCLUSIONS
The study confirms that patients with headache are satisfied with a neurological specialist consideration, especially in the case of migraine.
Bekkelund
Svein Ivar
SI
Department of Neurology, Tromsø University Hospital, Norway. nevrsib@rito.no
Salvesen
Rolf
R
D000328:Adult; D000554:Ambulatory Care Facilities; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008881:Migraine Disorders / Q000628:therapy*; D009462:Neurology / Q000592:standards*; D009664:Norway; D017060:Patient Satisfaction / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012017:Referral and Consultation / Q000592:standards*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D018781:Tension-Type Headache / Q000628:therapy*