[Evaluation and improvement of healthcare quality in patients with headache attending physical therapy].

BACKGROUND: To evaluate the effects on healthcare quality following implementation of a program to improve care for individuals with headache in two physical therapy clinics and its association with outcomes and self-perceived improvement.

METHODS: We assessed healthcare quality by creating a questionnaire on fulfilment of fifteen quality criteria included in the clinical history of individuals suffering from tension-type, cervicogenic or migraine headaches seeking physical therapy between 2010 and 2014. In 2015, after applying a program to improve care in one center (C1), we reassessed the same fulfilment questionnaire in both centers, using the other center (C2) as control.

RESULTS: In the first evaluation there was a huge number of cases of non-compliance of all the criteria in both centers. After implementation of the care improvement program in C1 a significant improvement was observed in some items, as use of a headache diary, which rose from 0 to 100%, or use of the HIT-6 disability questionnaire, which rose from 30 to 100%. In addition, there was a significant improvement in self-perceived health status after implementation of the care program in C1.

CONCLUSIONS: The implementation of a care improvement program was effective in improving healthcare quality for individuals with headache attending physical therapy services.