By Dr. Anders Munck - leader of the Audit Project Odense, E-mail; amunck@dadlnet.dk
The Audit method
APO has since 1989 developed a method for quality development, which has become well-established also in the other Nordic countries and in several European countries. Audit according to the APO method combines quality development, research and continuous medical education. APO carries out quality development projects based on activity registration and performs the research-related analysis of work in general practice in connection with actual projects. A typical audit project according to the APO method includes:
1) A prospective registration of a central, frequently occurring topic. The registration is performed on a specially developed registration chart suitable for collecting data for elucidation of own practice with regard to diagnosis and treatment of central disease groups. The registration is straightforward and manageable in a busy general practitioner’s working day. Each participant in an audit receives an individual report of his own and the total results.
2) The results are evaluated at the first follow-up meeting, where quality problems are highlighted, and subsequent training courses are planned.
3) After 1-2 years another registration is performed in order to see whether the goal of the first project has been reached. In continuation of specific projects, research work can be carried out and guidelines issued.
Who can use the APO audit method?
The target group has primarily been general practitioners, but the method has also proved to be very suitable for other staff groups within primary health care, e.g. practice staff, physiotherapists, health visitors/district nurses etc. It has also proved suitable for other specialists, e.g. ENT specialists, gynaecologists etc.
The Danish audit network
Audits are organised by APO in collaboration with a network of facilitators from the counties, all general practitioners, who are responsible for the local implementation of audit projects. The network is represented in all Danish counties. The network both gathers up local project ideas and coordinates national projects.
The Scandinavian Audit Network
Audit according to the APO method has since the mid-nineties been established in the other Nordic countries. Several joint Nordic audits have been carried out, and the Nordic audit network meets up at least once a year.
Audits in other European countries
In recent years several audits have been carried out in Spain, the Baltic countries and in Kaliningrad. We are working on getting even more countries involved in the audit idea.
