Ensuring Justification for Head CT Scans in Patients With Head Injuries According to 2023 National Institute of Excellence Guidelines at a Tertiary Care Center in Baghdad, Iraq: A Clinical Audit.

Objective To evaluate adherence to the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidelines in ordering computed tomography (CT) head scans for patients presenting with head trauma at the emergency department at the Teaching Hospital in Baghdad. Methodology A clinical audit was conducted in two cycles at the Radiology Department of the Teaching Hospital. Data were collected from the head CT request forms for patients presenting with head trauma to the emergency room. In the first cycle, data were gathered retrospectively over a month in January 2025. The data were then examined and analyzed, and interventions were implemented to enhance quality and outcomes. The second cycle was conducted to objectively evaluate the success of these interventions over a one-month period (May 2025). Results In cycle one, 144 patients were included, with 77.08% of their requests failing to comply with the NICE guidelines. After implementing the interventions, 28.44% of the 102 patients in the second cycle showed no definitive indications. The interventions significantly reduced requests that fell outside of the NICE guidelines. Conclusion The adherence to NICE guidelines for justifying head CT scans for head injury was inadequate and was significantly improved after implementing simple interventions.