QUALITY ASSURANCE IN AN EAR, NOSE AND THROAT DEPARTMENT IN SAUDI-ARABIA - A SURGICAL AUDIT

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.