This chapter introduces the concept of clinical audit as a key instrument for improving the quality and safety of patient care. It explains how clinical audits stimulate targeted interventions to enhance clinical effectiveness and evaluate their outcomes in real practice settings. Designed for healthcare professionals at all levels, the chapter provides a step-by-step understanding of the audit cycle, including topic selection, setting standards, data collection, analysis, implementation of change, and sustaining improvement. The chapter also clarifies common misconceptions surrounding clinical audit and distinguishes it from related activities such as research, surveillance, service evaluation, and routine monitoring. It discusses how well-conducted audits drive continuous improvement when embedded into everyday clinical work, and warns against dysfunctional consequences such as blame culture or token compliance that can undermine their purpose. By combining conceptual clarity with practical guidance, this chapter equips healthcare teams to conduct meaningful clinical audits that lead to measurable improvements in care quality and patient outcomes.