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What is a Clinical Audit?

BDJ Student volume 29, pages 12–14 (2022)Cite this article

A clinical audit consists of measuring the performance of an activity or process, against well-defined standards set on principles of evidence-based dentistry to identify changes needed to improve the quality of care. Audits can be carried out routinely or in response to a significant even that has occurred.

Some audits are mandatory to complete - the Care Quality Commission (CQC) advises regular audits on:

  1. 1.

    Infection Decontamination and Control

  2. 2.

    Radiography

  3. 3.

    Accessibility1

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References

  1. Care Quality Commission. Dental MythBusters 17: Audit and improvement in primary dental services. 2021. Online information available at www.cqc.org.uk/guidance-providers/dentists/dental-mythbuster-17-audit-improvement-primary-dental-services (Accessed February 2022).

  2. Ogbeiwi O. Why written objectives need to be really SMART. Br J Healthc Manag 2017; 23: 324-336.

  3. Scally G, Donaldson L. Looking forward: Clinical governance and the drive for quality improvement in the new NHS in England. BMJ 1998; 317: 61-65.

  4. Radar Healthcare. What is clinical governance and what are the 7 pillars? 2021. Online information available at: https://radarhealthcare.com/news-blogs/what-is-clinical-governance-and-what-are-the-7-pillars/ (Accessed February 2022).

  5. East Midlands Emergency Medicine Educational Media. Clinical Audit. 2022. Online information available at: https://em3.org.uk/induction/clinical-audit (Accessed February 2022).

  6. Tech Quality Pedia. What is a Fishbone Diagram? 2020. Online information available at: https://techqualitypedia.com/fishbone-diagram-ishikawa-diagram/ (Accessed February 2022).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Thurmaston Dental Practice, Leicester, UK

    Priyanka Adatia

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  1. Priyanka Adatia
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Correspondence to Priyanka Adatia.

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Adatia, P. What is a Clinical Audit?. BDJ Student 29, 12–14 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41406-022-0305-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41406-022-0305-z

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