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A repeated criterion‐based audit of radiographic usage by a paediatric dentistry unit
Author(s) -
Shockledge R.R.,
Hill F.J.
Publication year - 1998
Publication title -
international journal of paediatric dentistry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.183
H-Index - 62
eISSN - 1365-263X
pISSN - 0960-7439
DOI - 10.1046/j.1365-263x.1998.00083.x
Subject(s) - medicine , audit , radiography , clinical practice , dental practice , medical audit , paediatric dentistry , patient care , clinical audit , unit (ring theory) , dentistry , family medicine , physical therapy , nursing , surgery , accounting , mathematics education , mathematics , business
Aims . To report a simple clinical audit which was conducted within a single hospital paediatric dental unit and to demonstrate the potential value of such small‐scale projects. Design . A criterion‐based audit of radiographic practice which was repeated after 3 years in order to evaluate changes. Setting . Six 1 hour meetings of an audit group consisting of the staff and postgraduate students of the Unit. Sample and Methods . Various aspects of radiographic usage were quantitatively assessed using a sample of patient records and a pre‐planned check list to assess the extent to which agreed good‐practice criteria were being met. The initial audit identified areas for improvement which were addressed before repeating the exercise 3 years later. Results . Clinical note‐keeping to accompany radiographic examinations was found to be the least satisfactory area of practice. When the exercise was repeated, encouraging improvements were demonstrated. Conclusions . The audit was worthwhile because it appeared to produce improvements in standards of patient care.