Home > Information for doctors >Tutorials >Audit and Summative assessment.

Francisco Machado 1997

Timing

• The audit can be performed at any stage during the 3 years of vocational training but it must be submitted no later than 4 months from the end of training. You can perform the audit whilst in your hospital posts but as the project has to relate to general practice most people will opt for an audit whilst attached to their practice.
• The audit will take about 3 months to perform and write up. So it will be difficult to complete it in the last six months of your training.
• Try and start as soon as you can. You should be writing up when you start your final six months or even better have this completed.
• The last six months of your training are very busy with preparation for MRCGP and preparation of the videos for summative assessment

Recommended timetable

 

Month	Action
Month 1	GPR enters general practice
Month 2,3	Introduction to the principles of audit Potential for audit in GP Read suitable audit book Suitable subject chosen and literature search started
Month 4	Audit started
Month 5	Audit completed
Month 6	Write up
Month 7	Submit

Content

• There are strict criteria for the marking of the audit. Read these carefully and make sure you follow the guidelines.

Question                Criterion                

Why was the Audit       Reason for Choice        
done?                   Should be clearly        
                        defined and reflected    
                        in the title             

                        Should be potential for  
                        change                   

How was the audit       Criteria chosen          
done?                   Should be relevant to    
                        the subject of the       
                        Audit                    

                        Should be justified      
                        e.g. literature          


			Preparation and          
			Planning                
			Should show appropriate  
                        teamwork and             
                        methodology in carrying  
                        out the Audit            

                        If standards are set     
                        they should be           
                        appropriate and          
                        justified                

What was found?         Interpretation of Data
			Should use relevant      
                        data to allow            
                        appropriate conclusions  
                        to be drawn              


What next?              Detailed Proposals for   
			change                 
			Should show explicit     
                        details of proposed      
                        changes                  

• check the type set, total word requirements.

• you and your practice should not be identified form the audit.

General tips

• keep it simple

• you are demonstrating your knowledge of audit it is not meant to be a thesis!!
• the topic must be important to general practice but make sure it is common,
• if the population of patients is too large think again or use a random sample
• retrospective audits are easier than prospective
• keep control of the data collection, good intentions form others may waver when the practice gets busy
• use the computer if possible
• get protected time, don't squeeze it into your free time
• look at other audits to give you ideas but remember your audit must be all your own work
• involve your trainer in the planning of the audit.