Headache in the Emergency Department. Version 6
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Headache in the Emergency Department: the HEAD study
IRAS ID
258618
Contact name
Edd Carlton
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
North Bristol NHS Trust
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
n/a, n/a
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 1 months, 1 days
Research summary
The aim of the HEAD study is to describe the variation in approach to diagnosis, management and outcome of headache in adults presenting to emergency departments. This is important, as it estimated to be a presenting feature in up to 5% of Emergency Department attendances in the UK. There is a wide range of causes for headache, the majority of which are benign. However, there is a subset of patients who have significant pathology as the cause for their symptoms.
The study is designed to look at which types of headache present primarily to emergency departments, but will also explore several important secondary outcomes. It will assess the patterns of use of pain relief in headache and focus on the use of morphine type medicines (opiates). This is especially important with the concerning and increasing risk of opioid addiction worldwide. The study will investigate rates of scanning and compliance to national headache guidance, where available.
HEAD, is an International study, with sites in the UK, Australia, New Zealand and Europe. It has been designed as a prospective multicentre observational study conducted over one calendar month in 2019. Patients over the age of 18 presenting with non-traumatic headache as their main presenting problem, will be invited to participate in the study. Patients will be identified prospectively but, depending on site resources, some data may be collected retrospectively.
REC name
South West - Frenchay Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
19/SW/0089
Date of REC Opinion
20 May 2019
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion