Patient headache questionnaires can improve headache diagnosis and treatment in children

• DOI: 10.1111/head.14643
• Publication Date: 2023-11-18T03:37:14Z
• Authors: Christina L. Szperka; Stephanie Witzman; Svetlana Ostapenko; John T. Farrar; Jesse Yenchih Hsu; Carrie P. Malavolta; Janille D. Bunney; Erin M. Bange; Carlyn Patterson ...; Gerardo Velasquez; Blanca Marquez de...; Mahgenn Cosico; Meyeon Lee; Pamela Pojomovsky...; Marisa S. Prelack; Madeline A. Chade...; Donna J. Stephenson; Elizabeth A. Kichula; Scott C. Tomaine; Andrew D. Hershey
• Keywords: Migraine treatment; Electronic health record

Abstract Objective To examine trends in diagnosis of headache and migraine a large pediatric neurology cohort, test whether an electronic health record (EHR)‐integrated questionnaire can increase specificity likelihood prescribing treatment. Background Under‐diagnosis contributes to the burden disease. As we founded our Pediatric Headache Program 2013, recognized that proportion patients with who were given was much lower than expected. Methods We developed patient questionnaire, initially on paper (2013–2014), then database (2014–2016), finally integrated into (pilot: 2016, full: May 2017). compared diagnoses prescribed treatments for new diagnosis, looking at specific (migraine, etc.) versus non‐specific “headache.” Next, conducted prospective cohort study association between provider use form presence prescription Results Between July 2011 December 2022 increased 9.7% decreased 21.0%. In EHR (June 2017–December 2022, n = 15,122), rate 87.2% (1839/2109) 75.5% (5708/7560) without nearly doubling odds making (odds ratio [OR] 1.90, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.65–2.19). Compared those only therapy 53.7% (1766/3286) time, 75.3% (8914/11836) received therapy, more (OR 2.39, CI: 2.20–2.60). Conclusions Interventions improve effective led rates treatments. These results have been sustained over several years. This adapted Foundation system EpicCare, so it is broadly available as clinical research tool institutions this software.