Using clinical audits in complex Allied Health interventions: challenges, barriers, and application – our experience applied in service delivery for children with Autism Spectrum Disorder

Clinical Audits in Complex Allied Health Interventions Viewpoint

Abstract

This paper discusses the use of retrospective clinical audits in complex Allied Health interventions, specifically based on our experience of designing and trialling a clinical audit in one service delivery area of occupational therapy (i.e., occupational therapy for sensory needs of children with autism spectrum disorder). Covered in our discussion is the application considerations of conducting an audit as external auditors to service organisations, however, lessons learnt can be applied to other Allied Health service delivery contexts as well. We encourage Allied Health professionals and researchers to utilise clinical audits as foundation of decision-making and especially for further research in areas with limited efficacy- and effectiveness-based research.