Factors influencing the effectiveness of audit and feedback: nurses' perceptions.
OBJECTIVE
To explore the perceptions of nurses in an acute care setting on factors influencing the effectiveness of audit and feedback.


BACKGROUND
Audit and feedback is widely used and recommended in nursing to promote evidence-based practice and to improve care quality. Yet the literature has shown a limited to modest effect at most. Audit and feedback will continue to be unreliable until we learn what influences its effectiveness.


METHODS
A qualitative study was conducted using individual, semi-structured interviews with 14 registered nurses in an acute care teaching hospital in Montreal, Canada.


RESULTS
Three themes were identified: the relevance of audit and feedback, particularly understanding the purpose of audit and feedback and the prioritisation of audit criteria; the audit and feedback process, including its timing and feedback characteristics; and individual factors, such as personality and perceived accountability.


CONCLUSIONS
According to participants, they were likely to have a better response to audit and feedback when they perceived that it was relevant and that the process fitted their preferences.


CONCLUSIONS
This study benefits nursing leaders and managers involved in quality improvement by providing a better understanding of nurses' perceptions on how best to use audit and feedback as a strategy to promote evidence-based practice.
McGill University, Montreal, Canada.
Venessa
V
Christina
Jewish General Hospital, Montreal, Canada. kathryn.baldwin@mail.mcgill.ca.
Kathryn
K
Baldwin
Quality, Performance and Patient Safety, McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, Canada.
Alain
A
Biron
Haematology-Oncology and Internal Medicine, Jewish General Hospital, Montreal, Canada.
Jessica
J
Emed
Haematology-Oncology and Internal Medicine, Jewish General Hospital, Montreal, Canada.
Karine
K
Lepage
D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D055317:Evidence-Based Practice; D005246:Feedback; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007857:Leadership; D008875:Middle Aged; D009726:Nurses / Q000523:psychology* / Q000592:standards; D010465:Perception; D036301:Qualitative Research; D011792:Quebec; D000066477:Work Performance / Q000592:standards*; D000078329:Workforce
audit and feedback; effectiveness; evidence-based practice; nurses' perceptions