What is the proper method for conducting a clinical audit?

From the Guidelines

To conduct a clinical audit, start by selecting a specific aspect of clinical care to evaluate against established standards, as outlined in the most recent and highest quality study 1. The process of conducting a clinical audit involves several key steps, including:

• Selecting a specific aspect of clinical care to evaluate against established standards
• Developing explicit criteria and standards based on best practice guidelines
• Designing a data collection methodology that includes sample size, timeframe, and specific data points to gather
• Collecting data systematically and analyzing the results to identify gaps between current practice and standards
• Developing an action plan to address any shortcomings and implementing changes using quality improvement methods like PDSA cycles
• Re-auditing after an appropriate interval to assess improvement and documenting findings in a structured report

The most recent and highest quality study 1 emphasizes the importance of monitoring outcomes after implementation of audit and feedback, and using this information to establish an audit of quality. This study also highlights the need for a structured approach to audit, including identifying specific targets and putting in place a plan of action.

Some key considerations when conducting a clinical audit include:

• Ensuring confidentiality and anonymity of patient information, as outlined in studies 1 and 1
• Involving relevant stakeholders, including clinical staff who will be affected by any changes
• Keeping the audit focused on measurable outcomes that matter to patients and align with organizational priorities
• Using quality improvement methods, such as PDSA cycles, to implement changes and assess improvement

Overall, conducting a clinical audit requires a systematic and structured approach, with a focus on improving patient care and outcomes. By following the steps outlined above and considering the key considerations, healthcare professionals can conduct effective clinical audits that lead to meaningful improvements in patient care.

From the Research

Clinical Audit Methodology

The proper method for conducting a clinical audit involves several key steps and considerations, as outlined in various studies 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. Some of the key aspects of clinical audit methodology include:

• Utilizing templates and tools to help develop clinical audit nationally and locally, as suggested by the Healthcare Quality Improvement Partnership 2
• Implementing evidence-based practices and quality improvement initiatives to identify gaps and barriers that may be contributing to underperforming measures and outcomes 3
• Recognizing clinical audit as an important quality improvement activity that has significant benefits for patients in terms of enhanced care, safety, experience, and outcomes 4
• Integrating multidisciplinary clinical audit techniques to facilitate good practice 5
• Analyzing clinical practice in relation to current guidance or 'gold standard' parameters to enable best practice within all aspects of patient care to be implemented 6

Key Considerations

Some key considerations for conducting a clinical audit include:

• The importance of clinical audit in supporting radiation protection, as mandated within the European Council Basic Safety Standards Directive (BSSD) 4
• The need for a formal clinical audit process to identify gaps and barriers that may be contributing to underperforming measures and outcomes 3
• The role of clinical audit in enhancing care, safety, experience, and outcomes for patients 4
• The importance of incorporating clinical audit into everyday clinical practice to enable best practice within all aspects of patient care to be implemented 6

Implementation and Uptake

The implementation and uptake of clinical audit can be influenced by various factors, including:

• The availability of templates and tools to support clinical audit 2
• The recognition of clinical audit as an important quality improvement activity 4
• The integration of multidisciplinary clinical audit techniques 5
• The presence of barriers and challenges to clinical audit uptake and implementation, such as a lack of awareness of clinical audit requirements 4