Accuracy of a computer-based anaesthetic audit system.

Abstract

The accuracy of an anaesthetic computer-based audit system was assessed. In a retrospective survey of operations performed 4 months previously only 50% of the patients' notes could be found, and 40% of these notes did not contain an anaesthetic chart. A prospective survey was also performed. The accuracy with which the computer output reflected the anaesthetic technique was found to be 52% in the retrospective survey and 33% in the prospective survey. The authors conclude that audit systems should be audited before their generated data are used for decision-making.