Opinions of Healthcare Employees on Internal and External Audits: A Qualitative Study

Abstract

The study was conducted to comprehensively examine the opinions of healthcare employees regarding internal and external audit processes, which are critical for ensuring quality and accountability in healthcare services. The study had a descriptive qualitative design. The sample consisted of 20 healthcare employees (physicians, nurses, anesthesia technicians) working in various hospitals in Ardahan and Ankara. The data of the study were collected using a semi-structured interview form prepared by the researcher after the voluntary consent of the participants. Participants were coded as P1, P2, ..., P20. During data analysis, similar data were grouped and coded within the framework of certain concepts and themes. The mean age of the participants was found to be 37.95 ± 7.40 (min: 26, max: 53), 35% (n=7) were female, 65% (n=13) were male, and 50% (n=10) were single. In terms of educational background, 20% (n=4) had a bachelor’s degree, and 50% (n=10) had a master’s degree or higher. The occupational distribution was 35% (n=7) nurses, 40% (n=8) anesthesia technicians, and 25% (n=5) physicians. Also, 60% (n=12) of the employees worked in the public sector, and 40% (n=8) worked in the private sector. Although healthcare employees believe that audits are necessary, there are disagreements regarding the functioning of audit processes, the qualifications of auditors, and the impacts of audits on employees. Most participants noted differences in objectivity and frequency between internal and external audits and said that audits increase workload, cause stress, and negatively impact employees, particularly because of increased documentation and the pressure on audit days. These results highlight the need to make processes more efficient and employee-friendly, in addition to the benefits of audits.