title: The challenges of implementing a multi-centre audit of end-of-life care in care homes.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This article aims to share the experience of a hospice in facilitating a multi-centre audit of end-of-life care in care homes, particularly noting the challenges and enablers of carrying out the audit.
  
  
  METHODS
  The audit was a retrospective multi-centre survey of bereaved relatives/next of kin of residents who died in the care home, using an anonymous, validated questionnaire: the Family Perception of Care Scale. Questionnaires were sent 3-months after bereavement. Returned questionnaires were analysed using SPSS and Excel. The care homes were in areas encompassing outer and inner city populations.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The team identified eight challenges to the audit process, in particular, embedding procedures within the care homes, non-responses and developing action plans for improvement.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Overall, the audit provided an indication of where improvements could be made and where care was already excellent, built confidence and increased expertise in the care-home staff.
authors.affiliation: Family Perception of Care Audit Project Lead, Care Home Project Team, St Christopher's Hospice, London.
authors.forename: Jean
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Levy
authors.affiliation: Care Home Project Team, St Christopher's Hospice, London, England.
authors.forename: Julie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kinley
authors.affiliation: Family Perception of Care Audit Project Administrator, Care Home Project Team, St Christopher's Hospice, Sydenham, London.
authors.forename: Frances
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Conway
mesh_terms: D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D001294:Attitude to Health; D001601:Bereavement; D054869:Clinical Audit; D005190:Family; D017051:Hospice Care / Q000592:standards*; D064946:Hospice and Palliative Care Nursing / Q000592:standards*; D006801:Humans; D009013:Morale; D009735:Nursing Homes; D011787:Quality of Health Care; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013727:Terminal Care / Q000592:standards*
keywords: Audit; Care homes; End of life