Does audit improve XXXX care in a primary care setting? A management tool to address health system gaps.

@entity1 @entity413 @entity6
INTRODUCTION: @entity6 is one of the emerging epidemics. Regular clinical and biochemical monitoring of @entity1 , adherence to treatment and counseling are cornerstones for prevention of complications. Clinical audits as a process of improving quality of @entity1 care and outcomes by reviewing care against specific criteria and then reviewing the change can help in optimizing care. OBJECTIVE: We aimed to audit the process of @entity6 care using @entity1 records and also to assess the effect of audit on process of care indicators among @entity1 availing @entity6 care from a rural health and training center in Puducherry, South India. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A record based study was conducted to audit @entity6 care among @entity1 attending noncommunicable disease clinic in a rural health center of South India. Monitoring of blood pressure (BP), blood @entity413 , lipid profile and renal function test were considered for auditing in accordance with standard guidelines. Clinical audit cycle (CAC), a simple management tool was applied and re-audit was done after 1-year. RESULTS: We reviewed 156 and 180 @entity1 records during year-1 and year-2, respectively. In the audit year-1, out of 156 @entity1 , 78 (50%), 70 (44.9%), 49 (31.4%) and 19 (12.2%) had got their BP, blood @entity413 , lipid profile and renal function tests done. Monitoring of blood @entity413 , BP, lipid profile and renal function improved significantly by 35%, 20.7%, 36.4% and 56.1% over 1-year. CONCLUSION: CAC improves process of @entity6 care in a primary care setting with existing resources.
