FRACGP Assessment and Evaluation 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A GP wants to evaluate quality of care across their practice using a criterion audit. Which step comes FIRST in the audit cycle?
- Collecting data against the criterion
- Implementing changes
- Setting the criterion and standard (Correct answer)
- Re-auditing after change
Correct answer: Setting the criterion and standard
The audit cycle begins with defining the criterion (what should happen) and setting the standard (the acceptable threshold) before data collection.
Question 2: When using the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K10) in Australian general practice, a score of 30 or above indicates:
- Low distress
- Moderate distress
- High distress
- Very high distress (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Very high distress
K10 scores of 30–50 indicate very high psychological distress, warranting urgent mental health assessment and management.
Question 3: Which assessment tool is specifically designed to evaluate functional decline in older adults and predict risk of falls?
- Timed Up and Go (TUG) test (Correct answer)
- Geriatric Depression Scale
- Clinical Frailty Scale
- MMSE
Correct answer: Timed Up and Go (TUG) test
The Timed Up and Go test measures mobility and dynamic balance, and a time of ≥12 seconds predicts increased fall risk in older adults.
Question 4: In general practice evaluation, 'reliability' of an assessment tool refers to:
- The tool's ability to detect true positives
- Consistency of results when the test is repeated under the same conditions (Correct answer)
- The proportion of patients correctly identified as disease-free
- The clinical usefulness of the test result
Correct answer: Consistency of results when the test is repeated under the same conditions
Reliability refers to the reproducibility of a test — consistent results under similar conditions — distinct from validity (accuracy).
Question 5: A GP assesses a patient's readiness to change smoking behaviour using the Transtheoretical Model. The patient states, 'I've been thinking about quitting but haven't set a date.' Which stage is this patient in?
- Precontemplation
- Contemplation (Correct answer)
- Preparation
- Action
Correct answer: Contemplation
Contemplation is characterised by awareness of the problem and consideration of change within the next 6 months, but without commitment to a specific plan.
Question 6: Which of the following best describes the purpose of using a genogram in a family assessment?
- To document a patient's medication history across generations
- To map family relationships, health patterns, and psychosocial dynamics (Correct answer)
- To calculate genetic risk scores for hereditary disease
- To screen for family violence using a validated scoring tool
Correct answer: To map family relationships, health patterns, and psychosocial dynamics
A genogram is a pictorial display of a patient's family relationships and history, used to identify health patterns, communication styles, and psychosocial factors.
Question 7: A GP performs a fundoscopic examination and notes arteriovenous nipping and flame-shaped haemorrhages. Which chronic condition's severity is this assessment most relevant to?
- Type 2 diabetes mellitus
- Hypertension (Correct answer)
- Hypercholesterolaemia
- Chronic kidney disease
Correct answer: Hypertension
Arteriovenous nipping and flame-shaped haemorrhages are hypertensive retinopathy findings used to grade the severity of end-organ damage from hypertension.
FRACGP Assessment and Evaluation 3
A GP wants to evaluate quality of care across their practice using a criterion audit.
Which step comes FIRST in the audit cycle?