Conducting Retrospective Studies, Audits and Chart Reviews: A Practical Guide for Clinicians

Background/Objectives: Retrospective projects including audits and observational research advance the practice of emergency medicine but face methodological challenges affecting data quality. This guideline presents an 11-step framework to guide the conduct of high-quality retrospective projects, minimizing bias and enhancing reproducibility for clinicians. Methods: The stepped approach mirrors the standard sections of a study protocol but reframes them as guiding questions to make each section’s content and purpose more practical, intuitive, and clear for users. Conclusions: This framework equips clinicians with a practical entry point to retrospective study design, distilling methodological nuances and strategies to bridge theory and application. Systematic adherence promotes rigor, reduces bias, and elevates retrospective chart review from a convenient tool to a robust method for evaluating practice patterns, interventions, and quality improvement in emergency care. Implementation also fosters a culture of evidence-based inquiry essential to advancing emergency medicine.