OBJECTIVE: To assess which aspects of referral care for @entity10 are associated with improvement of @entity158 and subjective quality of life. BACKGROUND: In managed care, referrals to a specialist are sometimes kept to a minimum. It has been questioned whether @entity1 with @entity10 do better after consultation with a specialist. METHODS: We mailed a questionnaire to all @entity1 referred for @entity10 to a neurologic center in northern Norway during a 2-year period (n = 1403). The questionnaire included items concerning diagnosis and treatment, along with simple visual analog scales to assess whether the @entity1 's @entity2794 and self-perceived quality of life had changed after seeing the specialist. RESULTS: There were 1052 responders (75%). @entity10 generally decreased after consultation with a specialist; it decreased significantly more in the 527 @entity1 who were assigned a diagnosis compared to the 344 @entity1 who claimed they were not. Reduction of @entity10 also was significantly more obvious in the 483 @entity1 who had treatment prescribed, as compared to the 385 @entity1 not receiving any therapeutic measure. Self-perceived quality of life was generally improved, significantly more when the @entity1 was given a diagnosis, and even when the diagnosis did not lead to treatment. CONCLUSIONS: @entity1 referred to a neurologic center for evaluation of @entity10 generally experience a significantly greater improvement in their @entity2794 and quality of life. This appears particularly so when they receive a diagnosis, even if no treatment is prescribed.

Aspects of referral care for XXXX associated with improvement.

@entity1 :: ('9606', 'Species') :: ['Patients', 'patients', 'patient'] @entity10 :: ('MESH:D006261', 'Disease') :: ['headache', 'Headache'] @entity2794 :: ('MESH:D020773', 'Disease') :: ['headache syndrome'] @entity158 :: ('MESH:D010146', 'Disease') :: ['pain']
@entity10 :: (MESH:D006261,Disease) :: ['headache']
