Anticipatory prescribing in terminal phase care: mini audit

This mini-audit supports general practitioners to strengthen anticipatory prescribing and symptom management receiving end-of-life care in the community. The activity provides a structured, practice-based opportunity to review real patient care against current Australian best-practice guidance, including the National Core Community Palliative Care Medicines List and supporting resources. It focuses on improving confidence, consistency and quality in end-of-life prescribing, an area that can be challenging due to infrequent exposure, time pressures and system barriers.

Participants will audit the care of three patients who received anticipatory medications during the terminal phase, with a focus on how prescribing decisions were informed by clinical changes, best-practice guidance, and patient and family communication. The review also considers medication use across care settings, symptom response over time, and the broader systems supporting end-of-life care in the community.

Through reflective analysis of audit findings, participants will identify strengths and gaps in their own practice, recognise barriers to timely and effective symptom management, and develop practical actions to improve future care. The activity promotes patient-centred, coordinated end-of-life care and aims to enhance patient comfort, reduce avoidable distress and unplanned care escalation, and improve experiences for patients, families and carers.

This activity is accredited for 1hr EA, 2hr MO and 1 hour RP with RACGP. You can also review our other learning resources such as our FastTrack: practical tips for core symptom management in end-of-life care.