Quality Assurance and Improvement Flashcards
7 cards from real FANZCA practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Quality Assurance and Improvement flashcards as text
The Australian and New Zealand Anaesthetic Mortality Committee (ANZAMC) primarily serves which function in quality assurance?
Answer: Collecting and analyzing data on anaesthesia-related deaths to identify preventable factors
ANZAMC collects and analyzes data on deaths associated with anaesthesia to identify preventable factors and make recommendations to improve practice.
In quality improvement methodology, a 'driver diagram' is used to:
Answer: Identify primary and secondary drivers that contribute to achieving a specific improvement aim
A driver diagram is a visual tool that links an improvement aim to its primary drivers and secondary drivers, guiding intervention selection.
Which indicator is considered a PROCESS measure rather than an OUTCOME measure in perioperative quality improvement?
Answer: Compliance rate with pre-induction checklist completion
Checklist compliance is a process measure reflecting what is done during care delivery, whereas mortality, ICU admission rates, and PONV incidence are outcome measures.
In a Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) cycle for reducing perioperative hypothermia, which element belongs in the 'Plan' phase?
Answer: Defining the specific change to test, predicting outcomes, and deciding what data to collect
The Plan phase involves defining the specific change to test, making predictions about expected outcomes, and planning data collection before implementation.
A hospital reports its anaesthetic complication rate is 2.5% compared to a benchmark of 3.1%. Which caveat is MOST important when interpreting this comparison?
Answer: Case-mix adjustment must be performed before valid comparisons can be made
Raw complication rates are meaningless without case-mix adjustment, as patient complexity, procedure types, and comorbidities significantly influence outcomes.
The WHO Surgical Safety Checklist has been shown to reduce postoperative complications primarily through which mechanism?
Answer: Enhancing team communication, verifying critical information, and reducing errors of omission
The WHO Surgical Safety Checklist reduces complications by facilitating team communication, confirming critical safety information, and preventing errors of omission at key transition points.
When implementing a new quality indicator in an anaesthetic department, which property of a good indicator ensures it can detect meaningful changes in performance?
Answer: Sensitivity to change
Sensitivity to change (also called responsiveness) ensures an indicator can detect meaningful improvements or deteriorations in performance when they occur.