Does audit improve DNR decision making?

The use of 'do not resuscitate' (DNR) orders in hospitals has been the subject of considerable comment in both the medical and the lay press. Guidelines have been produced to help make DNR decisions but, as yet, there have been no published accounts of these in practice. We have used audit to accounts of these in practice. We have used audit to develop DNR policy in our hospital, and have reviewed practice after the introduction of guidelines. This led to early consultant involvement in making decisions in 55 of 80 patients (69%) who were assessed as DNR at the time of death or discharge, documentation of reasons for DNR in all 55 of these and documentation of discussion with nurses in 49 (89%). Consultants agreed with DNR decisions made by their juniors in 31 of 34 cases (91%) and changed 'for CPR' decisions to DNR in 24 of 108 (22%). We have demonstrated that audit is an appropriate way to change and develop practice in sensitive areas such as this.