Clinical Audit (also known as Audit, Clinical, Audits, Clinical): A detailed review and evaluation of selected clinical records by qualified professional personnel to improve the quality of patient care and outcomes. The clinical audit was formally introduced in 1993 into the United Kingdom's National Health Service.

NIH MeSH · D054869Health Care

Clinical Audit

Also known asAudit, Clinical · Audits, Clinical · Clinical Audits

Definition

A detailed review and evaluation of selected clinical records by qualified professional personnel to improve the quality of patient care and outcomes. The clinical audit was formally introduced in 1993 into the United Kingdom's National Health Service.

MeSH classification

  • N04.761.700.250
  • N05.700.175

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Common questions about Clinical Audit

What does Clinical Audit mean in medicine?
A detailed review and evaluation of selected clinical records by qualified professional personnel to improve the quality of patient care and outcomes. The clinical audit was formally introduced in 1993 into the United Kingdom's National Health Service. This definition is taken from the National Library of Medicine's MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) 2026 release, which is the standard vocabulary used to index PubMed and most medical literature.
Is Clinical Audit known by any other names?
Yes. Clinical Audit is also referred to as Audit, Clinical, Audits, Clinical, Clinical Audits in different clinical, research and patient-facing contexts. The MeSH descriptor groups all of these synonyms under a single canonical concept so research and records stay consistent.
Where does Clinical Audit sit in the medical classification?
Clinical Audit falls under the broader medical category "Health Care" in the MeSH hierarchy (tree numbers: N04.761.700.250, N05.700.175). Browsing the related concepts on this page takes you to neighbouring topics in the same branch of medicine.
Where can I get a plain-language explanation of Clinical Audit?
For a plain-language explanation of Clinical Audit - including symptoms, treatments and what it means for an Indian patient - ask GoDavaii's Health AI. It works in 22+ Indian languages, is free and needs no signup. Tap "Ask GoDavaii AI about Clinical Audit" above.

Source: NIH MeSH 2026 (D054869) — National Library of Medicine, public domain. View official MeSH record ↗