Types of audit -- Q for clinicians

I'm trying to get some information pertaining to local (to me) auditing of patients' clinical files regarding whether or not patients have been asked about history of childhood adverse events.

Some years ago, someone from a male survivors of sexual abuse, in a public forum, asked if local patients were being asked about their experience of childhood abuse / trauma. A reply came back from a nurse in the audience "there's a couple of questions about that on the admission form, but they're not always answered".

Now a question has come back from the person handling the "Official Information Act" (NZs version of a Freedom of Information Act):

"could you please clarify what kind of audit you are enquiring about"

Anyone want to give me some guidance on the best way to answer this?

Basically, I just want to see if anyone's bothered to ask if the questions are being asked regularly and consistently; or if not, how often they are asked -- and maybe even what the results were. This is a fascinating and important Q -- some research has shown that "at least 90%" of people admitted to psychiatric hospitals have a history of childhood adversity -- I think that's pretty important from the viewpoint of "Trauma-Informed Care".

2/22/1711:22 PM

Original Post

Replies sorted oldest to newest

Robert OlcottMember

Russell, I can't speak for New Zealand, but annual "CDC BRFSS" surveys are done by many, but not all individual states in the US.

BRFSS ("Behavioral Risk Factor Survey Studies") include ACE questions, in about 30+ states. (Jane Stevens or other ACEsConnection staff may be able to give you the most accurate up-to-date count.)

2/25/1710:40 AM

Russell WilsonMember

thanks, Robert, but I don't see how your response is applicable to my Q. fwiw "types" of audit are outlined, quite well, in the Wikipedia page on "Clinical Audit".

My question was more along the lines of current approaches to the audit process, as applied to local settings -- I didn't want to miss anything, after all it's over 30 years since I did graduate level courses in Methodology (for audit / research purposes). To be honest, though, given the lack of attention on actually incorporating a focus on clients' general experience of trauma, other than iatrogenic trauma, I'll be surprised if I get much meaningful data gathered by those in the industry locally -- which is a critical statement in itself worth the "publicity". All I can do now is wait and see.

Thanks anyway

2/26/1712:44 AM

Jane StevensPublisher, ACEsTooHigh; founder, PACEs Connection

Russell: In your request, are you asking for clinical services in New Zealand that have integrated ACE questions?

2/26/174:02 PM

Russell WilsonMember

sorry if I wasn't clear -- no, my original request was for a listing of types of audit as may be applied / used for clinical services. Not being a part of the generation that uses Wikipedia for homework, and hence taking what W~ says as reliable, I'd prefer to evaluate my sources, and providers, of information -- bit hard, but not impossible, on Wikipedia, although I'm rarely impressed by the "references" (really, mostly, bibliography) most people give with their articles.

You see, I got the following request from our local Official Information Act Coordinator:

(My request, following a specification of what info I wanted) Could you also please advise if an audit of case files has been conducted – one off or ongoing—

(OIA Coord response) For this question, could you please clarify what kind of audit you are enquiring about?

So, for now, it's just got to do with the local service -- btw I REALLY doubt anyone in the Public Service in NZ uses the full ACEsQ. Especially if a more comprehensive check on their use were to be done, I'd have to regard it as "research" with all the complications that involves -- and doing such research would be "frowned upon", however much I, or you, might regard it as a pressing need -- God bless the MH process in NZ ;-)

2/26/174:33 PM