|
Preparing for audit
|
Securing stake-holder interest and involvement (e.g. professionals, patients or carers)
|
No
|
| |
Selection of appropriate topic, according to whether:
| |
| |
• Topic concerned is of high cost, volume, or risk to staff or users
|
No
|
| |
• Evidence of a serious quality problem
|
Yes: effects greater if low baseline
|
| |
• Good evidence available to inform quality standards
|
No
|
| |
• Amenability of problem to change
|
No
|
| |
• Potential for involvement in a national audit project
|
No
|
| |
• Topic is pertinent to national policy initiatives
|
No
|
| |
• Topic is a priority for the organisation
|
No
|
| |
Clear definition of purpose of audit, e.g. to improve or ensure the quality of care
|
No
|
| |
Provision of necessary support structures, i.e.
| |
| |
• Structured audit programme (committee structure, feedback mechanisms, and regular audit meetings)
|
No
|
| |
• Sufficient funding (audit staff, time of clinical staff, data collection, feedback)
|
No
|
| |
Identification of skills and people needed to carry out the audit
|
No
|
|
Selecting criteria
|
Definition of criteria (structure, process and outcome)
|
No
|
| |
Validity and potential to lead to improvements in care
| |
| |
• Evidence based
|
No
|
| |
• Related to important aspects of care
|
No
|
| |
• Measurable
|
Yes (implicitly)
|
|
Measuring level of performance
|
Planning data collection
| |
| |
• Definition of user group (and exceptions)
|
Can't tell
|
| |
• Definition of healthcare professionals involved
|
Yes (implicitly)
|
| |
• Definition of time period over which criteria apply
|
Yes (implicitly)
|
|
Making improvements
|
Identification of barriers to change
|
No
|
| |
Implementing change
| |
| |
• Establishing the right environment (at individual, team and organisational levels)
|
No
|
| |
• Considering external relationships (e.g. with patients or other agencies)
|
No
|
| |
• Use of other supporting interventions (e.g. educational outreach, reminders) and / or multifaceted interventions
|
Yes: not supported by evidence
|
|
Sustaining improvement
|
Monitoring and evaluating changes, e.g. continuing audit cycle, use of performance indicators
|
No
|
| |
• Appropriate organisational development (e.g. cultural change, adequate training)
|
No
|
| |
• Use of existing strategic, organisational or clinical frameworks
|
No
|
| |
• Leadership
|
No
|
