What is 'clinical audit'?
“Clinical audit is a quality improvement process that
seeks to improve patient care and outcomes through systematic
review of care against explicit criteria and the implementation of
change. Aspects of the structure, processes, and outcomes of care
are selected and systematically evaluated against each explicit
criterion. Where indicated, changes are implemented at an
individual, team, or service level and further monitoring is used
to confirm improvement in healthcare delivery”. Principles
for Best Practice in Clinical Audit, National Institute of Clinical
Excellence (2002).
Clinical audit is different from research. Clinical audit should
of course always be conducted ethically with consideration to the
same principles as ethical research, but it does not require formal
review/approval from a Research Ethics Committee because it is not
research. The Royal College of Psychiatrists' Centre for Quality
Improvement (CCQI) has produced a brief document Ethical Audit at the
CCQI explaining the relevant differences between
clinical audit, service evaluation and research.
What is a
POMH-UK QIP 'Topic'?
POMH-UK identifies specific topics within mental health
prescribing practice, based on recommendations by member Trusts and
partner organisations. For each Topic, we develop and run a
QIP: a clinical audit cycle, with customised change interventions,
to help member organisations measure and improve quality in that
area of practice.
What is a POMH-UK 'quality improvement
intervention'?
In order to stimulate improvements in practice, POMH-UK develops
a range of quality improvement interventions for each Topic. Trusts
select as many of these as they wish to implement for any Topic
they are participating in. Some examples of interventions developed
by POMH-UK (both Topic-specific and general) to date are: educative
and awareness raising posters for both clinical and service user
audiences; educational slide sets with speakers notes for delivery
by local champions; practical workbooks for clinical staff; a
practical workshop on change management; and practical development
sessions on specific prescribing Topics. POMH-UK interventions are
NOT clinical interventions or treatments.
Current POMH members can download or
order printed copies of interventions.
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