An audit on quality of request letters for electroencephalography interpretation sent to Clinical Neuroscience Centre, Faculty of Medicine, Galle

Abstract

To analyze the quality of requests for reporting of adult electroencephalographs (EEG) and the quality of EEG records. An audit on request letters and printed records of adult EEGs sent to the Clinical Neuroscience Centre (CNC), Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Galle for reporting. A regional tertiary care centre in Sri Lanka. Fifty six consecutive EEG records with request letters sent for reporting. To evaluate the relevance of the requests, adequacy of the information given in the request for reporting and the quality of the records and to make suggestions for improvement if necessary. Indications were mentioned in 54 (96.4 %) of die patients but adequate details of the clinical condition were mentioned only in 42 (75%). The duration of the illness was mentioned in 23(41%) %); age in 21 (37.5%) and the drug history in 10 (18%). Average duration of the record is 7.15 (range 2.21- 13.03) minutes. Artifacts were found in 11 (19.6%) of records. Most of the letters requesting EEG reporting are lacking useful clinical details. The longer records of EEG with attention to minimize artifacts and more detailed structured request letters may improve the yield of detecting abnormalities and the quality of the reports.