CIC Education and Research 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: An ICP wants to determine whether a new decontamination protocol caused a reduction in CLABSI rates. Which type of study design is MOST feasible in a hospital setting?
- Double-blind randomized trial
- Quasi-experimental before-and-after study (Correct answer)
- Nested case-control study
- Ecological study
Correct answer: Quasi-experimental before-and-after study
Quasi-experimental before-and-after studies are practical and commonly used in healthcare settings to evaluate the impact of infection prevention interventions.
Question 2: When calculating a surgical site infection (SSI) rate, what is used as the denominator?
- Total hospital admissions
- Total surgical procedures performed (Correct answer)
- Total patient days
- Total operative hours
Correct answer: Total surgical procedures performed
SSI rates are calculated per 100 surgical procedures, making the number of procedures the correct denominator.
Question 3: Which educational strategy is MOST effective for changing deeply ingrained infection prevention behaviors among healthcare workers?
- One-time mandatory lecture
- Multimodal education with ongoing feedback (Correct answer)
- Annual competency written exam
- Policy distribution via email
Correct answer: Multimodal education with ongoing feedback
Multimodal education combined with ongoing performance feedback is the most effective strategy for sustained behavioral change.
Question 4: A p-value of 0.03 in an infection prevention study means:
- There is a 3% chance the intervention works
- There is a 97% chance the null hypothesis is true
- There is a 3% probability of observing the result if the null hypothesis is true (Correct answer)
- The study has a 3% margin of error
Correct answer: There is a 3% probability of observing the result if the null hypothesis is true
A p-value represents the probability of obtaining results at least as extreme as observed, assuming the null hypothesis is true.
Question 5: Which competency framework is most commonly referenced when developing infection preventionist training programs in the US?
- APIC Competency Model (Correct answer)
- CDC Guidelines for Environmental Infection Control
- OSHA Bloodborne Pathogens Standard
- Joint Commission NPSG framework
Correct answer: APIC Competency Model
The APIC Competency Model provides the foundational framework for defining and evaluating infection preventionist knowledge, skills, and abilities.
Question 6: When conducting a root cause analysis (RCA) of a healthcare-associated infection outbreak, what is the PRIMARY goal?
- Identify and discipline responsible staff
- Determine which patient was the index case
- Identify system failures contributing to the outbreak (Correct answer)
- Calculate financial liability for the facility
Correct answer: Identify system failures contributing to the outbreak
RCA is a systems-focused process designed to identify underlying system failures rather than assign individual blame.
Question 7: Which format is MOST appropriate for delivering infection prevention education to a geographically dispersed healthcare workforce?
- In-person classroom sessions
- Printed policy manuals
- Asynchronous e-learning modules (Correct answer)
- Grand rounds presentations
Correct answer: Asynchronous e-learning modules
Asynchronous e-learning modules allow geographically dispersed staff to access training at their convenience without requiring simultaneous attendance.
CIC Education and Research 3
An ICP wants to determine whether a new decontamination protocol caused a reduction in CLABSI rates.
Which type of study design is MOST feasible in a hospital setting?