Audits of oncology units – an effective and pragmatic approach
Background. Audits of oncology units are part of all quality-assurance programmes. However, they do not always come across as pragmatic and helpful to staff. Objective. To report on the results of an online survey on the usefulness and impact of an audit process for oncology units. Methods. Staff...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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South African Medical Association
2017-06-01
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| Series: | South African Medical Journal |
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| Online Access: | http://www.samj.org.za/index.php/samj/article/view/11919/8081 |
| _version_ | 1797331149936132096 |
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| author | Raymond Pierre Abratt David Eedes Belinda Bailey Chris Salmon Yogi Govender Ivan Oelofse Henriette Burger |
| author_facet | Raymond Pierre Abratt David Eedes Belinda Bailey Chris Salmon Yogi Govender Ivan Oelofse Henriette Burger |
| author_sort | Raymond Pierre Abratt |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background. Audits of oncology units are part of all quality-assurance programmes. However, they do not always come across as pragmatic and helpful to staff.
Objective. To report on the results of an online survey on the usefulness and impact of an audit process for oncology units.
Methods. Staff in oncology units who were part of the audit process completed the audit self-assessment form for the unit. This was followed by a visit to each unit by an assessor, and then subsequent personal contact, usually via telephone. The audit self-assessment document listed quality-assurance measures or items in the physical and functional areas of the oncology unit. There were a total of 153 items included in the audit. The online survey took place in October 2016. The invitation to participate was sent to 59 oncology units at which staff members had completed the audit process.
Results. The online survey was completed by 54 (41%) of the 132 potential respondents. The online survey found that the audit was very or extremely useful in maintaining personal professional standards in 89% of responses. The audit process and feedback was rated as very or extremely satisfactory in 80% and 81%, respectively. The self-assessment audit document was scored by survey respondents as very or extremely practical in 63% of responses. The feedback on the audit was that it was very or extremely helpful in formulating improvement plans in oncology units in 82% of responses. Major and minor changes that occurred as a result of the audit process were reported as 8% and 88%, respectively.
Conclusion. The survey findings show that the audit process and its self- assessment document meet the aims of being helpful and pragmatic. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-08T07:30:20Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-a38ee55455d4423bb0ff1c7871a8da3f |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 0256-9574 2078-5135 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-08T07:30:20Z |
| publishDate | 2017-06-01 |
| publisher | South African Medical Association |
| record_format | Article |
| series | South African Medical Journal |
| spelling | doaj.art-a38ee55455d4423bb0ff1c7871a8da3f2024-02-02T20:49:18ZengSouth African Medical AssociationSouth African Medical Journal0256-95742078-51352017-06-01106649349610.7196/SAMJ.2017.v107i6.12356Audits of oncology units – an effective and pragmatic approachRaymond Pierre Abratt0David Eedes1Belinda Bailey2Chris Salmon3Yogi Govender4Ivan Oelofse5Henriette Burger6Division of Radiation Oncology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town; and Independent Clinical Oncology Network, Cape Town, South Africa Independent Clinical Oncology Network, Cape Town, South Africa Independent Clinical Oncology Network, Cape Town, South Africa ISIMO Health, Cape Town, South AfricaEqura Health SA, Durban, South AfricaEqura Health SA, Durban, South AfricaDivision of Radiation Oncology, Tygerberg Hospital and Stellenbosch University, and Division of Radiation Oncology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, South AfricaBackground. Audits of oncology units are part of all quality-assurance programmes. However, they do not always come across as pragmatic and helpful to staff. Objective. To report on the results of an online survey on the usefulness and impact of an audit process for oncology units. Methods. Staff in oncology units who were part of the audit process completed the audit self-assessment form for the unit. This was followed by a visit to each unit by an assessor, and then subsequent personal contact, usually via telephone. The audit self-assessment document listed quality-assurance measures or items in the physical and functional areas of the oncology unit. There were a total of 153 items included in the audit. The online survey took place in October 2016. The invitation to participate was sent to 59 oncology units at which staff members had completed the audit process. Results. The online survey was completed by 54 (41%) of the 132 potential respondents. The online survey found that the audit was very or extremely useful in maintaining personal professional standards in 89% of responses. The audit process and feedback was rated as very or extremely satisfactory in 80% and 81%, respectively. The self-assessment audit document was scored by survey respondents as very or extremely practical in 63% of responses. The feedback on the audit was that it was very or extremely helpful in formulating improvement plans in oncology units in 82% of responses. Major and minor changes that occurred as a result of the audit process were reported as 8% and 88%, respectively. Conclusion. The survey findings show that the audit process and its self- assessment document meet the aims of being helpful and pragmatic.http://www.samj.org.za/index.php/samj/article/view/11919/8081AuditingQuality assuranceOncology |
| spellingShingle | Raymond Pierre Abratt David Eedes Belinda Bailey Chris Salmon Yogi Govender Ivan Oelofse Henriette Burger Audits of oncology units – an effective and pragmatic approach South African Medical Journal Auditing Quality assurance Oncology |
| title | Audits of oncology units – an effective and pragmatic approach |
| title_full | Audits of oncology units – an effective and pragmatic approach |
| title_fullStr | Audits of oncology units – an effective and pragmatic approach |
| title_full_unstemmed | Audits of oncology units – an effective and pragmatic approach |
| title_short | Audits of oncology units – an effective and pragmatic approach |
| title_sort | audits of oncology units an effective and pragmatic approach |
| topic | Auditing Quality assurance Oncology |
| url | http://www.samj.org.za/index.php/samj/article/view/11919/8081 |
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