Objective: Audit is a recognised tool for evaluating the performance and improving the quality of health services. In Ireland and the UK, clear resources are available outlining audit elements. This study was undertaken to evaluate paediatric audits published from 2007 to 2020 to determine the adherence level to the definition of audit and to assess the quality of audit standards.
Design: PUBMED, MEDLINE and CINAHL databases were searched to identify relevant articles published in the English language. Each was reviewed to assess whether the following criteria were met: (1) a paediatric healthcare topic was described, (2) practice was reviewed, (3) the standard was specified, (4) an intervention was made and data collection was repeated to assess improvement. The quality of the standard for each true audit was graded utilising the Oxford Centre for Evidence-Based Medicine Levels of Evidence.
Results: Of 1230 published paediatric healthcare articles reviewed, 144 (11.4%) fulfilled the full criteria of an audit. Sixty-three (43.8%) true audits used the highest quality of evidence (level 1a and 1b), predominantly international or national guidelines. Fifty-six (38.9%) audits used the lowest quality of evidence (level 5), predominantly expert opinion.
Conclusions: There is a mismatch between the common usage of the term audit, and the definition, despite its incorporation into training curricula and institutional support. Many articles published as audits do not adhere to the definition of audit. There are variable levels of evidence supporting the standards utilised in published true audits.
Keywords: Audit; Paediatrics; Quality; Standard.
© 2022. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Royal Academy of Medicine in Ireland.