Development of an instrument to assess staff perceptions of the impact of trust‐based clinical audit programmes

We have developed and tested a questionnaire to assess staff perceptions of the impact of clinical audit within hospital and community trusts. The aim is to provide a tool for audit departments to assess the progress of their audit programmes, alongside other monitoring methods, and to identify perceived problems, and resistant or neglected groups of staff. Desirable attributes of audit programmes were identified through a qualitative analysis of policy documents from key national bodies. After pre‐testing, 24 items were included in the questionnaire, along with an overall question on the value of audit, and space for written comments and suggestions. The questionnaire was piloted with health professionals in three trusts in South Thames. 371 out of 566 (66%) questionnaires were returned completed. After omitting two items the scale showed good internal consistency. The scale also performed well against the three tests of validity. The survey showed interesting differences between staff groups in the trusts.