Practice-audit-publish: A practice reflection

Practice audits are useful opportunities to improve practice efficiency and effectiveness, reduce clinical errors, demonstrate quality care to stakeholders, promote high standards of practice, lower the risk of liability, and foster practice change. However, a benefit that is usually overlooked is the possibility of publication of the results of a practice audit. Publication (research) has a number of benefits for the clinician, including skill development as a scholar, communicator, professional, and collaborator. A practice audit is beneficial to an individual physician; furthermore, publication of the audit results could be beneficial for many others such as health care providers, patients, and other stakeholders in a health care system. The problem is that practice audits often begin without a clear plan. The important steps in planning and carrying out a practice audit can be captured by thinking about how a research publication evolves. Thus, a good researcher is a good practice auditor. This paper reviews the author's experience and provides examples and directions of the process of practice-audit-publish.