Key criteria to consider when deciding whether your project is service evaluation, audit or research2 7
| Service evaluation | Audit | Research | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall aim (intent) | To judge the quality of the current service | To measure clinical practice against a standard | To generate new knowledge/add to the body of knowledge |
| Initiated by | Service providers | Service providers | Researchers |
| Involves a new treatment | No | No | Sometimes |
| Randomisation | No | No | Sometimes |
| Allocates patients to treatment groups | No | No | Sometimes |