Understanding how and why audits work in improving the quality of hospital care: A systematic realist review.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Several types of audits have been used to promote quality improvement (QI) in hospital care. However, in-depth studies into the mechanisms responsible for the effectiveness of audits in a given context is scarce. We sought to understand the mechanisms and contextual factors that determine why audits might, or might not, lead to improved quality of hospital care.

Methods

A realist review was conducted to systematically search and synthesise the literature on audits. Data from individual papers were synthesised by coding, iteratively testing and supplementing initial programme theories, and refining these theories into a set of context-mechanism-outcome configurations (CMOcs).

Results

From our synthesis of 85 papers, seven CMOcs were identified that explain h

SUBMITTER: Hut-Mossel L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8011742 | biostudies-literature | 2021

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature