FANZCA Quality Assurance and Improvement 2

Question 1

In the context of anaesthesia quality improvement, what does the term 'near miss' refer to?

Accepted Answer

An unplanned event that did not reach the patient but had potential to cause harm

Answer

An adverse event that caused minor patient harm

Answer

A sentinel event requiring mandatory reporting

Answer

A medication error that was corrected after administration

Question 2

Which statistical tool is used in anaesthesia quality monitoring to distinguish between common-cause variation and special-cause variation in process data over time?

Accepted Answer

Statistical process control (SPC) chart

Answer

Pareto chart

Answer

Fishbone diagram

Answer

Run chart without control limits

Question 3

The FANZCA fellowship standard requires participation in quality improvement activities. Which of the following BEST describes a quality improvement project versus a research project?

Accepted Answer

QI aims to improve local systems using existing knowledge; research aims to generate new generalizable knowledge

Answer

QI uses randomization while research does not

Answer

QI requires ethics committee approval while research does not

Answer

QI is conducted only by senior consultants while research involves trainees

Question 4

In a root cause analysis (RCA) following an anaesthetic adverse event, which team composition is MOST appropriate?

Accepted Answer

A multidisciplinary team including those involved and process experts, excluding blame-focused individuals

Answer

The anaesthetist involved in the event only

Answer

Hospital administrators and risk managers only

Answer

Only senior anaesthetists not involved in the case

Question 5

The Donabedian model for evaluating healthcare quality consists of which three dimensions?

Accepted Answer

Structure, process, and outcomes

Answer

Safety, effectiveness, and patient-centeredness

Answer

Input, throughput, and output

Answer

Prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation

Question 6

When auditing anaesthetic records for compliance with documentation standards, which approach BEST reflects a quality improvement cycle?

Accepted Answer

Identify gaps, implement education, re-audit to assess change, and continue the cycle

Answer

Identify gaps and report them to hospital administration only

Answer

Identify gaps and discipline non-compliant staff

Answer

Audit once annually and publish results without follow-up

Question 7

Which of the following BEST describes the purpose of a mortality and morbidity (M&M) conference in anaesthesia departments?

Accepted Answer

To provide a structured forum for learning from adverse events and improving systems

Answer

To assign blame and disciplinary action to responsible clinicians

Answer

To fulfill medicolegal documentation requirements only

Answer

To compare individual anaesthetist performance for credentialing purposes