End-of-life planning: Mini Audit

End-of-life care is a deeply important aspect of general practice. It requires clinical skill, compassion, and clear communication. This practical, reflective learning activity is designed to support general practitioners in delivering best practice care to patients approaching the end of life. 

What’s Included in this mini-audit

Structured Clinical Audit:

Participants will conduct a review of three patients under their care - either those who have died in the past 12 months or are likely to die within the next year due to a life-limiting illness. This real-world audit anchors learning in clinical practice.

Review of Evidence-Based Guidelines:

GPs will be supported to review the current recommendations for end-of-life care, ensuring their audit is benchmarked against best practice.

Application of the PELP Framework:

The mini-audit incorporates the PELP framework to help guide reflection and structure responses. This nationally recognised tool ensures that each phase of end-of-life care is thoughtfully considered.

Interactive Learning and Reflection:

Participants will be prompted to respond to structured questions, reflect on their audit findings, and identify improvements to their current practice.

Optional Peer Discussion:

The audit encourages optional peer engagement - such as presenting findings at a team meeting, discussing with a colleague or registrar, or exploring change ideas with practice leadership. These discussions can reinforce learning and spark practice-wide improvements.

By completing this mini-audit, participants will be able to:

• Identify patients who may benefit from end-of-life planning

• Assess and improve the quality of documentation related to end-of-life discussions

• Review care planning against the four phases of the PELP framework

• Reflect on current practice and implement changes that align with best practice standards

Who is this Mini-Audit For?

This activity is designed for General Practitioners caring for patients with life-limiting conditions, especially those involved in palliative care, aged care, and chronic disease management. It is ideal for GPs looking to enhance the quality of their end-of-life care and meet CPD requirements in a meaningful and practice-oriented way.

Partner

This education is brought to you by caring@home 

The caring@home project is funded by the Australian Government Department of Health, Disability and Ageing and led by the Brisbane South Palliative Care Collaborative.

Take this opportunity to engage in reflective practice that leads to better outcomes for your patients and greater confidence in navigating the complexities of end-of-life care.