BACKGROUND AND AIMS: The initial aim of this audit was to determine whether information on death certificates is correct and all legal requirements are met. As shortcomings were found, educational measures were undertaken and the effect of those was measured by a re-audit. METHOD: All death certificates issued during a 4-month period within the elderly care department of a district general hospital were retrospectively audited. A re-audit was performed later the same year over a 3-month period. RESULTS: 19 (13.6%) of 140 certificates issued during the initial 4-month period could not be shown to meet the statutory criteria, as no evidence was found that these patients were attended by the issuing medical officer. Minor errors and omissions were found in 58.6% of certificates. Following education about these problems, there was a significant improvement in death certification. Only 2 (2.4%) of 85 certificates issued in the re-audit period did not meet the statutory criteria (p = 0.01) and minor errors and omissions occurred in 20%. CONCLUSION: The incidence of unsatisfactory death certificates within a hospital setting is high. Increased education and better documentation leads to improvements in accuracy and legitimacy.
BACKGROUND AND AIMS: The initial aim of this audit was to determine whether information on death certificates is correct and all legal requirements are met. As shortcomings were found, educational measures were undertaken and the effect of those was measured by a re-audit. METHOD: All death certificates issued during a 4-month period within the elderly care department of a district general hospital were retrospectively audited. A re-audit was performed later the same year over a 3-month period. RESULTS: 19 (13.6%) of 140 certificates issued during the initial 4-month period could not be shown to meet the statutory criteria, as no evidence was found that these patients were attended by the issuing medical officer. Minor errors and omissions were found in 58.6% of certificates. Following education about these problems, there was a significant improvement in death certification. Only 2 (2.4%) of 85 certificates issued in the re-audit period did not meet the statutory criteria (p = 0.01) and minor errors and omissions occurred in 20%. CONCLUSION: The incidence of unsatisfactory death certificates within a hospital setting is high. Increased education and better documentation leads to improvements in accuracy and legitimacy.
Authors: Riley H Hazard; Hafizur Rahman Chowdhury; Tim Adair; Adnan Ansar; A M Quaiyum Rahman; Saidul Alam; Nurul Alam; Rasika Rampatige; Peter Kim Streatfield; Ian Douglas Riley; Alan D Lopez Journal: BMC Health Serv Res Date: 2017-10-02 Impact factor: 2.655
Authors: U S H Gamage; Pasyodun Koralage Buddhika Mahesh; Jesse Schnall; Lene Mikkelsen; John D Hart; Hafiz Chowdhury; Hang Li; Deirdre McLaughlin; Alan D Lopez Journal: BMC Med Date: 2020-12-11 Impact factor: 8.775
Authors: U S H Gamage; Tim Adair; Lene Mikkelsen; Pasyodun Koralage Buddhika Mahesh; John Hart; Hafiz Chowdhury; Hang Li; Rohina Joshi; W M C K Senevirathna; H D N L Fernando; Deirdre McLaughlin; Alan D Lopez Journal: PLoS One Date: 2021-11-08 Impact factor: 3.240