We set out to assess the level of agreement between mothers' and children's reports of headache (characteristics and frequency) in a non-clinical sample of children, through compilation of a medical questionnaire.
The compilation of a self-administered questionnaire during the waiting time might concentrate a patient's attention on crucial headache features, reduce the tension concerning the visit and break the ice in meeting the doctor.
Stanbury laid out those biochemical interests in some detail; by contrast, his comments on the agenda of the Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS) seem an afterthought: "obviously it is fully appreciated that the primary purpose of any DHSS supported survey would be the compilation of a clinically appropriate questionnaire and system of physical examination".
The companies were contacted by a team of researchers which assisted the compilation of the questionnaire during a face-to-face interview.
Following a careful review of international literature, we decided to conduct the interview using a paper questionnaire administered and compiled by medical doctors, who were trained in an ad hoc manner, by contributing to its formulation and by participating to a training day for the correct compilation of the questionnaire particularly with attention for differences according to age.
The compilation of the questionnaire was carried out in the waiting room, before the visit; it was done by the patient completely on his/her own or with the help of a non-health volunteer who had been trained for the task, i.e. had been instructed to read out the questions, explain them when required and/or note down the answers chosen by the participant.
It is a compilation of existing questionnaires, and their original cut-offs have been applied.
This screening instrument has been described elsewhere [ 18] and was a compilation of valid questionnaires, measuring health related variables, lifestyle, and work characteristics.
First, empirical data from related literature and valuable opinions from medical informatics experts provided a basis for compilation of the draft questionnaire.
In many cases the compilation of these questionnaires through video communication will provide for doctors a more up-to-date picture of the patient's state of health, and may allow the solving of problems without requiring the patient or carer to move locations.
