Audit

Am I singing the right tune -> research
Am I singing the tune right -> audit

Never go into a clinical job interview without the audit cycle (or more trendily, the audit spiral to signify advance!)

Components:

1. Identify standard.
2. Assess local practice.
3. Compare with standard.
4. Based on results, either implement change or continue good practice.
5. Re-audit after changes

The Cochrane systematic review Audit and feedback: effects on professional practice and health care outcomes indicates that audit can improve professional practice but the effects are variable and tend to be small to moderate. The review also reports that the results of the review do not support mandatory or unevaluated use of audit as an intervention to change practice.