Bridging the Audit Gap: Insights into Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices Toward Clinical Audit Among Sudanese Doctors
1
Ahfad University for Women, Omdurman, Sudan
2
Sudan Medical Specialization Board, Khartoum, Sudan
3
Al- Neelain University, Khartoum, Sudan
Popul. Med. 2026;8(Supplement Supplement 1):
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
Clinical audit is a key quality improvement tool aimed at enhancing patient care through systematic evaluation and change1. It improves patient care but is underused in resource-limited health systems like Sudan’s. Sudanese doctors' knowledge, attitudes and practices on clinical audit are under-researched. Understanding enabling environments, motivators, and barriers is key to improving quality systems. This study assessed Sudanese doctors’ awareness and engagement in clinical audit to identify gaps, motivators and barriers.
METHODS:
A cross-sectional KAP study was conducted among 560 Sudanese medical doctors from various categories (from house officers to consultants) working in and outside Sudan. Data were collected via an online structured questionnaire, cleaned in Excel, and analyzed using SPSS v27 and Jamovi v2.6.44. Descriptive statistics summarized KAP scores, barriers, and motivators, while correlation, one-way ANOVA, and multiple linear regression tests assessed associations between demographic and professional characteristics and clinical audit knowledge, attitudes, and practices.
RESULTS:
Most participants aged 25–34 years (73.9%), female (58.4%), based in Sudan (67.3%) and held bachelor’s degrees (71.3%). Knowledge levels were low (mean = 2.87 ± 1.81/8), while attitudes were highly positive (mean = 28.15 ± 2.74/30). Practice was limited (mean = 1.55 ± 1.37/6), with 78.4% showing low engagement. Knowledge correlated with both attitude (r = 0.28, p < 0.001) and practice (r = 0.31, p < 0.001 and the strongest correlation was environment–practice (r = 0.319), emphasizing the importance of institutional support. Major barriers included limited funding (77.7%) and workload (67.5%), while motivation stemmed from career advancement (82.5%). Higher practice was associated with male gender, public institutions, and greater experience.
CONCLUSIONS:
The study highlights a significant gap between knowledge and practice of clinical audit. Strengthening institutional support, funding, workload management, and training is essential to enhance audit implementation and sustainability within Sudan’s healthcare system.
Clinical audit is a key quality improvement tool aimed at enhancing patient care through systematic evaluation and change1. It improves patient care but is underused in resource-limited health systems like Sudan’s. Sudanese doctors' knowledge, attitudes and practices on clinical audit are under-researched. Understanding enabling environments, motivators, and barriers is key to improving quality systems. This study assessed Sudanese doctors’ awareness and engagement in clinical audit to identify gaps, motivators and barriers.
METHODS:
A cross-sectional KAP study was conducted among 560 Sudanese medical doctors from various categories (from house officers to consultants) working in and outside Sudan. Data were collected via an online structured questionnaire, cleaned in Excel, and analyzed using SPSS v27 and Jamovi v2.6.44. Descriptive statistics summarized KAP scores, barriers, and motivators, while correlation, one-way ANOVA, and multiple linear regression tests assessed associations between demographic and professional characteristics and clinical audit knowledge, attitudes, and practices.
RESULTS:
Most participants aged 25–34 years (73.9%), female (58.4%), based in Sudan (67.3%) and held bachelor’s degrees (71.3%). Knowledge levels were low (mean = 2.87 ± 1.81/8), while attitudes were highly positive (mean = 28.15 ± 2.74/30). Practice was limited (mean = 1.55 ± 1.37/6), with 78.4% showing low engagement. Knowledge correlated with both attitude (r = 0.28, p < 0.001) and practice (r = 0.31, p < 0.001 and the strongest correlation was environment–practice (r = 0.319), emphasizing the importance of institutional support. Major barriers included limited funding (77.7%) and workload (67.5%), while motivation stemmed from career advancement (82.5%). Higher practice was associated with male gender, public institutions, and greater experience.
CONCLUSIONS:
The study highlights a significant gap between knowledge and practice of clinical audit. Strengthening institutional support, funding, workload management, and training is essential to enhance audit implementation and sustainability within Sudan’s healthcare system.
| eISSN: | 2654-1459 |
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