ABSTRACT
Prescribing audit can help the practice improve its prescribing. Repeat prescribing is a relatively easy area in which to begin, since computerized data are readily available in most practices. Additional areas to audit could be: compliance, potential drug interactions, recall interval and monitoring, looking to see how often it is that the doctor with clinical responsibility for the patient signs the prescriptions. The strength of audit is its cyclical nature and the opportunity it presents to recognize, monitor and quantify the effects of changes in a practice stimulated by audit activities. Inspired by audit general practitioners are often moved to develop a clinical protocol for the management of chronic conditions. Prescribing audit conducted in terms of cost alone is of limited value, yet it is one of the easiest types of audit to do from prescribing analysis and cost data. Audit is a practice activity ideally involving all staff members in such a way that their particular skills are utilized.
