Clinical Audit vs Research: What's the Difference?

Collected and written by: Mohamed Hassan 

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You have to check the up-to-date information about the topic also, review the local legal regulations.

Clinical audit and research are both methods of generating and applying knowledge to improve the quality of care and outcomes for patients. However, they have different aims, processes and ethical implications.

The aim of clinical audit is to measure current practice against evidence-based standards and implement changes to address any gaps or deficiencies. The aim of research is to generate new knowledge or test hypotheses by collecting and analysing data in a systematic way.

The process of clinical audit involves defining the aim, objectives and criteria of the audit, planning and conducting data collection, analysing and interpreting data, implementing and evaluating changes, and repeating the audit cycle. The process of research involves identifying a research question, reviewing the literature, designing a research protocol, obtaining ethical approval, conducting data collection, analysing and interpreting data, disseminating and applying findings, and contributing to the evidence base.

The ethical implications of clinical audit and research are different. Clinical audit is considered as part of routine clinical practice and does not require formal ethical approval, although it should follow the principles of good clinical governance and respect patient confidentiality and consent. Research is considered as a separate activity from clinical practice and requires ethical approval from a research ethics committee, as well as informed consent from participants and adherence to research governance standards.

Clinical audit and research are both valuable tools for improving the quality of care and outcomes for patients. However, they have different aims, processes and ethical implications. Therefore, it is important to distinguish between them and follow the appropriate guidelines and regulations for each activity.

We hope this blog post has clarified the difference between clinical audit and research. If you have any questions or feedback, please feel free to contact us or leave a comment below.