Clinical audit

Question 1

What is a clinical audit?

Answer 1

• the systematic and critical analysis of the quality of clinical care
• includes the procedures used for diagnosis and treatment
• the associated use of resources
• the effect of care on the outcome and quality of life for the patient
• clinical governance = improving standards

(taking note of what we do , learning from it , changing it if necessary with the aim of improving care)

Question 2

Why do we do clinical audits?

Answer 2

• critical analysis of our own skills and ways of working (self improvement)
• critical look at the system that delivers care to your patients (i.e. your environment)
• can make a real difference and change things for the better

Question 3

What are the fundamental principles of audits ?

Answer 3

• improving patient care
• should be seen as part of day to day practice
• developing a critical eye on what we are doing
• trying to improve things all the time

Question 3

What are the 7 pillars od clinical governance?

Answer 3

• clinical audit
• clinical eefectiveness
• risk management
• use of information
• education and training
• staff/staff management
• patient/ public involvement

Question 4

What is the audit cycle?

Answer 4

• select a topic (what should be happening)
• observe current practice (what is happening)
• compare with standard/guideline
• what changes are needed?
• implement change

Question 5

Compare clinical research and clinical audits

Answer 5

clinical research= prove, AUDIT = IMPROVE
R= scientific inquiry
A = systematic measurement
R= Sets standards
A = compares standards
R = Statistical significance (sample size)
A = commitment to act (sample size)
R = testing hypothesis
A = standard of practice
R = New treatment
A = no new treatment
R = Increased knowledge
A = improved practice

Question 6

What are the clinical audit process steps for quality improvement?

Answer 6

• Identify problem
• define standard
• collect data
• compare performance
• implement change
• re-audit

Question 7

How to choose a topic to audit?

Answer 7

• must be relevant
• potential benefit to patient or to the organisation
• must have a known standard
• own area of interest
• areas you can influence

Question 8

How to set clinical audit standards?

Answer 8

• Look at national guidelines
• litreature journals
• textbooks
• local guidelines
• discussion with consultants/ GPSI’s
• Discussion with trainer/parnters
• Standards set should be realistic attainable
• jusifiable reasons for the standard set should be made explicitly clear