Quality care matters: advancing practice through clinical audit.

Abstract

This article outlines the essentials of audit design and implementation. Effective audit can be used as a tool to advance practice for quality maternity care provision. The value of audit is presented alongside some of the possible barriers and facilitators to effective use and impact within health care settings. A detailed overview of the key stages within the audit cycle is offered to support your engagement with audits in your own midwifery practice area.