Title of audit author

TITLE OF AUDIT

• Author

• Date of presentation

Background

• Why did you do the audit? eg. high risk / high cost / frequent procedure? Concern that best practice not being followed?

• Include summary of any previous work done locally or elsewhere on this topic

• Literature reviewed, including description of local protocols if appropriate

• Staff involved in audit and what role they played in project

Audit Aim

• Broad statement, expressed in terms of the question you are seeking to answer, or the result you are intending to bring about

• E.g.

• “To improve management of patients with pressure sores” OR

• “Are we following UBHT guidelines for management of patients with pressure sores?”

Objectives

• The sub-steps necessary to achieve your aim

• e.g.

• 1) to compare local practice to guideline

• 2) to implement changes to practice if necessary

Standards

• Goals that define best/ideal practice that we should aim to achieve - derived from published guidelines, search & appraisal of research evidence or locally agreed best practice, e.g.

•  

• 100% of patients should be seen within 30 minutes of their appointment time

• Exception - patients who are late for their appointment

Methodology

• Sample (How was sample determined? How many patients? How identified, eg. what codes used to identify on computer system?)

• How & when was data collected?

• Any problems collecting data, eg. missing notes? (state how many)

• Method of data analysis

Results

• Present results against standards, e.g.

• 30/50 cases met criteria for standard 1, and 10 met exception criteria

• => 40/50 (80%) met standard

• Use numbers & percentages and/or charts – whichever displays information most clearly. Ensure you state how many subjects were included - ‘n’ number

• Keep your message clear - don’t include excess information or use too many graphs

• Don’t identify individual staff or patients

Conclusions

• List of key points

• Any conclusions must be supported by the data presented in results section

Discussion

• E.g.

• problems noticed in process of care - how these could be prevented?

• limitations of the study

Recommendations for Improving Care

• List of suggestions for improving practice

• Discussed with view to forming detailed action plan (next slide - can leave in presentation as reminder to cover points)

Action Plan

• What actions? (from recommendations or discussion)

• Who will be responsible for each action?

• When should these actions be completed by?

• Is a re-audit needed? When should this be done (e.g. 6 months after action plan completed) and who will be responsible for leading re-audit?

References

• Optional but may be asked about

• Use standard & consistent format, e.g.

• Smith A B (1999) ‘Reducing waiting times in Outpatient Clinics’, BMJ Vol 500: 100-101.