A. Ashoor et al., QUALITY ASSURANCE IN AN EAR, NOSE AND THROAT DEPARTMENT IN SAUDI-ARABIA - A SURGICAL AUDIT, International journal for quality in health care, 7(1), 1995, pp. 57-62
Quality assurance (QA) in health care is being introduced in developin
g countries also. However, QA still meets resistance from some clinici
ans, A prospective voluntary surgical audit was set up in the ENT depa
rtment of a university teaching hospital in Saudi Arabia, Roles, respo
nsibilities and objectives were defined and designated facilities were
provided. There were 2125 admissions and 2389 operations in a 3-yr pe
riod. The stated objectives were achieved concerning resource manageme
nt, post-graduate training, and, especially, the successful establishm
ent of surgical audit as an on-going and open-forum activity in a deve
loping country, We conclude that other clinicians Can feel encouraged
by our positive experience and implement QA.