This course teaches you how to plan, complete and present a clinical audit, and how quality improvement differs from audit. It walks through a complete worked audit cycle from choosing a standard to re-audit, with simple calculations, and then introduces quality improvement using the Model for Improvement and PDSA cycles, so that you can lead a project in your own workplace.
What you will learn
- Define clinical audit and explain how it differs from research, service evaluation and quality improvement.
- Select an evidence-based standard and write measurable audit criteria with targets.
- Design a data collection tool and sample, collect data with appropriate governance approval, and calculate compliance as a percentage.
- Interpret audit results, develop an action plan and plan a re-audit to close the loop.
- Plan a quality improvement project using the Model for Improvement and Plan-Do-Study-Act cycles, with outcome, process and balancing measures.
- Present an audit or QI project clearly for appraisal, applications and interviews.
Course content
- What clinical audit is, and what it is not (2 min)
- Stage 1: choosing a topic and a standard (2 min)
- Stage 2: planning and collecting data (2 min)
- Stage 3: a complete worked audit cycle (3 min)
- Quality improvement and the PDSA cycle (5 min)
- Working with others and making change stick (1 min)
- Presenting your project (1 min)
- Knowledge check (10 questions, 10 min)
- Guided reflection (15 min)
Standards and guidance covered
- GMC: Good Medical Practice (2024), including taking part in systems of quality assurance and improvement
- NMC: The Code (2015, updated 2018), including preserving safety and practising effectively
- HCPC: Standards of proficiency, including the standards on assuring the quality of practice
- GPhC: Standards for pharmacy professionals (2017)
- Healthcare Quality Improvement Partnership (HQIP): guidance on clinical audit
Certificate
Courses are free to study. When you pass the knowledge check (80%) and complete your reflection, you can buy a verified certificate showing your CPD time, with a unique ID and QR code that anyone can check on our verification page.
Study free at your own pace on any device.
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Clinical Audit vs Quality Improvement: The Difference and How to Do Each
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Practitioner Insight is an independent education provider. It is not affiliated with or endorsed by the GMC, MPTS, NMC, HCPC, GPhC or any NHS organisation, and this information is not legal advice. If you have been referred to a regulator, speak to your defence organisation, trade union or legal representative.