Audit on quality of care given to the patients who attended the professorial surgical clinic

Abstract

INTRODUCTION The large number of patents attending the professorial surgical clinic overwhelms the facilities available. An audit was designed to evaluate the quality of care given to the patients. The parameters assessed were, treatment given, drugs given, dose appropriateness and whether unnecessary treatment was administered. METHODOLOGY Every 3rd patient (N=112) who attended the clinic of University Surgical Unit, NCTH, Ragama was included in the study, from June 2009 to August 2009. Each patient was assessed by a single examiner (a senior registrar), and a pre tested profoma was completed. RESULTS Majority was females 68(60.7%). 78(69.65%) were due to variety of diseases including breast pathology. 34(30.35%) were due to thyroid pathology. 76(67.85%) have received a diagnosis card. 108(96.42%) have got the correct treatment. 4(3.57%) have received unnecessary drugs, in 12(10.71%)the dosage of the drugs were not appropriate. 8(7.14%) patients could be discharged from the clinic. CONCLUSION Overall care given in the professorial surgical unit was satisfactory. A few people were receiving unnecessary drugs, improper dosage. Some have not received a diagnosis card and there were few unnecessary follow-ups. We should make the doctors aware of those issues to improve the quality of care given to the patients.