CPPS IHI PRACTICE EXAM 2025/ 2026
QUESTIONS WITH VERIFIED
ANSWERS
Which of the following charts would be best to demonstrate non-
random process variation over time?
A. Control chart
B. Run chart
C. Bar chart
D. Pie chart - correct answer -A. Control chart
The best answer is a control chart because it has controls
associated with it (both upper and lower control limits) to provide
the clearest picture of change over time. Run charts also display
change over time but lack the control limits. Bar charts and pie
charts are indicative of descriptive statistics and don't allow you to
look at something over time or track progress.
An organization has implemented measures to provide
preventative health screenings in an effort to prevent disease,
delay the onset of disease, keep diseases from worsening, and
reduce costs to health care. In order to measure effectiveness of
the interventions, leaders of the effort are planning to collect data.
,Which would be the best process measure for them to look at?
A. The number of health screenings performed
B. The number of patients who reported adopting a healthier
lifestyle as a result of the screening
C. Costs to the organization pre and post implementation of the
health screenings
D. The number of patients whose pre-existing conditions
improved after having been screened - correct answer -A. The
number of health screenings performed
The only process measure among these options is the number of
health screenings performed. The rest are outcome (not process)
measures.
A recent hospital initiative to decrease venous thromboembolism
(VTE) was not successful, despite implementing a training
program for staff. An interprofessional team came together to
analyze the persistent problem. Pharmacists reported that
patients often refused anticoagulant injections, particularly the
midnight dose. Nurses reported that patients did not care to be
awakened and given an injection, and, other times, nurses
withheld the injection because the patient was walking to the
bathroom.
Which of the following steps is the most important for the team to
take to address this problem?
,A. Request that pharmacy and nursing brainstorm solutions with
their staff.
B. Share the data with decision makers and continue to monitor
run charts.
C. Use the Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) cycle method for
improvement.
D. Require staff to attend an annual training on professional
guidelines. - correct answer -C. Use the Plan-Do-Study-Act
(PDSA) cycle method for improvement.
PDSA cycles can help the team test various ideas for
improvement to see which one leads to the best results. Requiring
staff to receive more education may not help if the staff are
already aware of what they're expected to do and why.
Brainstorming solutions may be useful, but it won't lead to
improvement without the steps the team would take in conducting
PDSA cycles. It's important to monitor the data, but measurement
alone does not lead to improvement, as improvement requires
change.
Which of the following is considered to be a scientific method of
process improvement for testing a change in a real work setting?
A. Failure mode and effects analysis (FMEA)
B. Root cause analysis (RCA)
C. Event analysis
, D. Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) cycle - correct answer -D. Plan-Do-
Study-Act (PDSA) cycle
The PDSA cycle is a scientific method of process improvement
that involves planning the change, trying it, observing it, and
acting on what is learned. It serves as a guide for testing a
change in a real work setting. RCA and event analysis are used
mostly in identifying causes related to an adverse event. FMEA is
utilized in identifying potential failures before a new process is
implemented.
An example of a descriptive statistics measure for central
tendency is:
A. Standard deviation
B. Range
C. Standard error of the mean
D. Mode - correct answer -D. Mode
Mode is a measure of central tendency. Range, standard
deviation, and standard error of the mean are measures of
variation.
QUESTIONS WITH VERIFIED
ANSWERS
Which of the following charts would be best to demonstrate non-
random process variation over time?
A. Control chart
B. Run chart
C. Bar chart
D. Pie chart - correct answer -A. Control chart
The best answer is a control chart because it has controls
associated with it (both upper and lower control limits) to provide
the clearest picture of change over time. Run charts also display
change over time but lack the control limits. Bar charts and pie
charts are indicative of descriptive statistics and don't allow you to
look at something over time or track progress.
An organization has implemented measures to provide
preventative health screenings in an effort to prevent disease,
delay the onset of disease, keep diseases from worsening, and
reduce costs to health care. In order to measure effectiveness of
the interventions, leaders of the effort are planning to collect data.
,Which would be the best process measure for them to look at?
A. The number of health screenings performed
B. The number of patients who reported adopting a healthier
lifestyle as a result of the screening
C. Costs to the organization pre and post implementation of the
health screenings
D. The number of patients whose pre-existing conditions
improved after having been screened - correct answer -A. The
number of health screenings performed
The only process measure among these options is the number of
health screenings performed. The rest are outcome (not process)
measures.
A recent hospital initiative to decrease venous thromboembolism
(VTE) was not successful, despite implementing a training
program for staff. An interprofessional team came together to
analyze the persistent problem. Pharmacists reported that
patients often refused anticoagulant injections, particularly the
midnight dose. Nurses reported that patients did not care to be
awakened and given an injection, and, other times, nurses
withheld the injection because the patient was walking to the
bathroom.
Which of the following steps is the most important for the team to
take to address this problem?
,A. Request that pharmacy and nursing brainstorm solutions with
their staff.
B. Share the data with decision makers and continue to monitor
run charts.
C. Use the Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) cycle method for
improvement.
D. Require staff to attend an annual training on professional
guidelines. - correct answer -C. Use the Plan-Do-Study-Act
(PDSA) cycle method for improvement.
PDSA cycles can help the team test various ideas for
improvement to see which one leads to the best results. Requiring
staff to receive more education may not help if the staff are
already aware of what they're expected to do and why.
Brainstorming solutions may be useful, but it won't lead to
improvement without the steps the team would take in conducting
PDSA cycles. It's important to monitor the data, but measurement
alone does not lead to improvement, as improvement requires
change.
Which of the following is considered to be a scientific method of
process improvement for testing a change in a real work setting?
A. Failure mode and effects analysis (FMEA)
B. Root cause analysis (RCA)
C. Event analysis
, D. Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) cycle - correct answer -D. Plan-Do-
Study-Act (PDSA) cycle
The PDSA cycle is a scientific method of process improvement
that involves planning the change, trying it, observing it, and
acting on what is learned. It serves as a guide for testing a
change in a real work setting. RCA and event analysis are used
mostly in identifying causes related to an adverse event. FMEA is
utilized in identifying potential failures before a new process is
implemented.
An example of a descriptive statistics measure for central
tendency is:
A. Standard deviation
B. Range
C. Standard error of the mean
D. Mode - correct answer -D. Mode
Mode is a measure of central tendency. Range, standard
deviation, and standard error of the mean are measures of
variation.
