A multidistrict audit on the management of Chlamydia trachomatis in genitourinary medicine clinics in Yorkshire.

Nine genitourinary clinics (one teaching hospital and 8 district general hospitals) within the Yorkshire Deanery audited the management of uncomplicated genital chlamydial infections in male and female patients attending between January and December 1995. Standards set included: 100% of chlamydia-positive patients to be treated within 2 weeks of diagnosis; 100% of patients to return for test of cure within one month of treatment; 100% of patients to be referred for contact tracing. Four hundred and thirty-six of a total 1356 cases were audited. Eighty-nine per cent received treatment within 2 weeks; 64% returned for a test of cure within one month; 93% were referred for contact tracing. Changes in practice and a region-wide multidisciplinary audit initiative resulted from the study.

Educational audit of postgraduate medical education.

This project examined the academic audit of postgraduate medical education, and went on to research, design and implement an educational audit system for use in Mersey Region, UK. Issues found to be significant included ownership of both standards and results, norming, and the levels of aggregation of data. The project has demonstrated that designing and implementing a system of feedback which is effective and sustainable is feasible, but requires the agreement and support of tutors as to its objectives and use. The resulting system has now been tested across a range of courses and programmes of meetings in Mersey Region, and has been accepted by the Postgraduate Office as the basis for future development.