Improving the Quality of Follow-Up Checklists in Rabak Teaching Hospital: A Two-Cycle Clinical Audit.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Follow-up checklists are essential tools in ensuring comprehensive patient care, promoting clear communication among healthcare professionals, and enhancing patient safety. This two-cycle clinical audit aimed to evaluate and improve the quality of follow-up checklists in Rabak Teaching Hospital by assessing adherence to standardized documentation practices based on the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidelines.

METHODS

A retrospective and prospective observational study was conducted over two cycles, with 50 follow-up notes evaluated in each cycle. The first cycle (baseline) was conducted between June 10, 2024, and July 12, 2024, and the second cycle (re-audit) was conducted from August 13, 2024, to August 24, 2024. Data were collected using a premade questionnaire based on NICE guidelines and analyzed using quantitative and qualitative methods.

RESULTS

The second cycle revealed significant improvements in the completeness and accuracy of follow-up documentation compared to the first cycle. Key areas such as patient history, vital signs, physical examination, and management plans showed enhanced adherence to guidelines.

CONCLUSION

The findings demonstrate that structured follow-up checklists, combined with staff training and regular audits, can significantly improve documentation quality, thereby optimizing patient care. Continued re-auditing is recommended to sustain these improvements.