Research, audit and quality improvement.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this article is to clarify the distinction between research and audit, and propose appropriate regulatory arrangements for audit and related activities.


METHODS
The methods used were literature reviews and conceptual analysis.


RESULTS
Research and audit overlap in various ways, but differ in terms of their purposes and the risks likely to be encountered and distinguished, along with a third related category of activities called quality improvement.


CONCLUSIONS
Appropriate regulatory arrangements are proposed for audit and quality improvement activities. Using these should ensure appropriate ethical standards and risk management, while avoiding the time-consuming over-regulation that occurs when projects are unnecessarily submitted to the ethical scrutiny appropriate for research projects.


CONCLUSIONS
Gives suggestions and information that could be of great value in spreading service improvement.
Newcastle, North Tyneside and Northumberland Mental Health NHS Trust, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK. roger.paxton@nmht.nhs.uk
Roger
R
Paxton
Paula
P
Whitty
Ali
A
Zaatar
Andrew
A
Fairbairn
Jane
J
Lothian
D006298:Health Services Administration / Q000592:standards*; D006302:Health Services Research; D006801:Humans; D008330:Management Audit; D008485:Medical Audit; D009937:Organizational Objectives; D017749:Total Quality Management / Q000458:organization & administration*