CPHQ Exam Practice Quiz
Congratulations - you have completed CPHQ Exam Practice Quiz.
You scored 101 out of 105.
You correctly answered 96.19% of the questions for this quiz.
All the questions in the quiz along with their answers are shown below. Your answers are
bolded. The correct answers have a green tick while the incorrect ones have a red cross.
Question 1 of 105
The benefits of studying a process include all of the following EXCEPT
1. arriving at a common understanding.
2. eliminating errors.
3. eliminating inconsistencies.
4. highlighting obvious problems.
Answer: B
Benefits of studying a process include the following:
• Arriving at a common understanding. When Team Members work through the
recommended strategies, they gain a common understanding of the process, start using
the same terminology, and don't waste time pulling in different directions.
• Eliminating inconsistencies. When comparing how various people associated with the
process carry out their work, inconsistencies will surface. Many of these can be traced to
a lack of documentation and inadequate training about the best way to run the process.
Quality and productivity often increase dramatically once employees who do the same
job start sharing and using a "best-known way" to do their work.
• Highlighting obvious problems. Looking closely at a process almost always highlights
glaring problems that have gone unnoticed but can be easily fixed. This is particularly
true of administrative processes.
,Studying a process does not directly lead to the elimination of errors.
Content Category: Performance Measurement and Improvement
Cognitive level required for a response: Recall
Tasks on the CPHQ exam content outline to which the question is linked: Coordinate or
participate in quality improvement projects
Question 2 of 105
The second sponge count at the end of a hernia repair operation on an obese patient was
incorrect. This was confirmed by repeat sponge counts, and the surgeon eventually located and
retrieved the missing sponge. The patient's recovery was uneventful.
The healthcare professional should
1. conduct root cause analysis.
2. perform failure mode and effects analysis.
3. continue to monitor incident reports of inaccurate sponge counts from the Operating
Room.
4. recommend retraining of Operating Room staff to better track surgical instruments and
sponges during surgical procedures.
Answer: A
This question consists of two parts. Firstly, to answer the question correctly, you need to
recognize that the incident in the Operating Room is a sentinel event. As discussed in my article
on sentinel events, this incident meets the definition of a sentinel event because there was a
significant risk that the sponge (a foreign body) was retained in the patient. Secondly, you are
expected to know that any sentinel event requires a thorough and credible root cause analysis.
Content Category: Patient Safety
Cognitive level required for a response: Analysis
Tasks on the CPHQ exam content outline to which the question is linked: Perform or
coordinate risk management
,Question 3 of 105
A point prevalence survey in 2010 showed that the overall prevalence proportion of healthcare-
associated infections in a hospital system was 7.3%. In 1990, the prevalence proportion was
8.1%. A hypothesis test for the difference between the two prevalence proportions gave a P-
value of 0.029.
Which of the following is the most accurate interpretation of the results?
1. The prevalence of healthcare-associated infections in 2010 is significantly lower than that
in 1990.
2. The prevalence of healthcare-associated infections in 2010 is lower than that in 1990, but
there is a small chance that, in reality, there was no difference in the prevalences.
3. The prevalence of healthcare-associated infections in 2010 is higher than that in 1990 but
there is a moderate chance that, in reality, there was no difference in the prevalences.
4. The prevalence of healthcare-associated infections in 2010 is slightly lower than that in
1990.
Answer: B
The prevalence of healthcare-associated infections is lower in 2010 than in 1990. Therefore, the
third answer option (C ) should be eliminated. The final answer option (D) is ambiguous -the
term "slight" carries no meaning in statistics or in healthcare quality. Some candidates might
have chosen the first answer option because the P-value was lower than 0.05. However, the level
of significance for the hypothesis test was not stated. It could have been 0.01 (in which case it
would not have been a "significant result") or 0.10 (in which case it would have been
significant). The most accurate interpretation of the result is this: the prevalence of healthcare-
associated infections in 2010 is lower than that in 1990, but there is a small (2.9% probability)
that the result would have been observed, due to chance, if there was in truth no difference
between the two prevalences. The correct answer for this question is B.
Content Category: Information Management
Cognitive level required for a response: Application
Tasks on the CPHQ exam content outline to which the question is linked: Use the results of
statistical techniques to evaluate data (e.g. t-test, regression)
Question 4 of 105
Which of the following is most effective in communicating instructions to patients before their
discharge from hospital?
1. In addition to clear verbal instructions, the caregiver conveys all instructions in written
form.
2. The caregiver gives verbal instructions on more than one occasion before the patient's
discharge from hospital.
3. The caregiver communicates the same instructions to a member of the patient's family.
, 4. The caregiver communicates instructions to the patient and then asks the patient to
explain what he/she has just been informed to do.
Answer: D
Each of the four communication strategies above could be applied. However, "teach back"
(answer option D) is probably the most effective technique to communicate instructions to
patients. According to the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (2001) report Making
Health Care Safer, "Asking that patients recall and restate what they have been told" is one of 11
top patient safety practices based on strength of scientific evidence.
Content Category: Performance Measurement and Improvement
Cognitive level required for a response: Application
Tasks on the CPHQ exam content outline to which the question is linked: Facilitate
evaluation or selection of evidence-based practice guidelines (e.g. for standing orders or as
guidelines for physician ordering practice)
Question 5 of 105
Among the following factors, competency assessment of staff is LEAST influenced by data
related to
1. productivity.
2. feedback from patients, families, and staff.
3. performance improvement findings relative to performance standards in the job
description.
4. knowledge of administrative policies and procedures.
Answer: D
The first three answer options support staff competency assessment. Whilst knowledge of
administrative policies and procedures may be required for some jobs, the other factors are
stronger in evaluating an employee's competency and skill gaps.
Content Category: Performance Measurement and Improvement
Cognitive level required for a response: Recall
Tasks on the CPHQ exam content outline to which the question is linked: Incorporate
performance improvement into the employee performance appraisal system
Question 6 of 105
The senior leaders of a managed care organization have consulted a healthcare quality
professional on the purchase of a clinical data management software system to support
performance improvement.
Which of the following is the most important issue in identifying the system requirements?
Congratulations - you have completed CPHQ Exam Practice Quiz.
You scored 101 out of 105.
You correctly answered 96.19% of the questions for this quiz.
All the questions in the quiz along with their answers are shown below. Your answers are
bolded. The correct answers have a green tick while the incorrect ones have a red cross.
Question 1 of 105
The benefits of studying a process include all of the following EXCEPT
1. arriving at a common understanding.
2. eliminating errors.
3. eliminating inconsistencies.
4. highlighting obvious problems.
Answer: B
Benefits of studying a process include the following:
• Arriving at a common understanding. When Team Members work through the
recommended strategies, they gain a common understanding of the process, start using
the same terminology, and don't waste time pulling in different directions.
• Eliminating inconsistencies. When comparing how various people associated with the
process carry out their work, inconsistencies will surface. Many of these can be traced to
a lack of documentation and inadequate training about the best way to run the process.
Quality and productivity often increase dramatically once employees who do the same
job start sharing and using a "best-known way" to do their work.
• Highlighting obvious problems. Looking closely at a process almost always highlights
glaring problems that have gone unnoticed but can be easily fixed. This is particularly
true of administrative processes.
,Studying a process does not directly lead to the elimination of errors.
Content Category: Performance Measurement and Improvement
Cognitive level required for a response: Recall
Tasks on the CPHQ exam content outline to which the question is linked: Coordinate or
participate in quality improvement projects
Question 2 of 105
The second sponge count at the end of a hernia repair operation on an obese patient was
incorrect. This was confirmed by repeat sponge counts, and the surgeon eventually located and
retrieved the missing sponge. The patient's recovery was uneventful.
The healthcare professional should
1. conduct root cause analysis.
2. perform failure mode and effects analysis.
3. continue to monitor incident reports of inaccurate sponge counts from the Operating
Room.
4. recommend retraining of Operating Room staff to better track surgical instruments and
sponges during surgical procedures.
Answer: A
This question consists of two parts. Firstly, to answer the question correctly, you need to
recognize that the incident in the Operating Room is a sentinel event. As discussed in my article
on sentinel events, this incident meets the definition of a sentinel event because there was a
significant risk that the sponge (a foreign body) was retained in the patient. Secondly, you are
expected to know that any sentinel event requires a thorough and credible root cause analysis.
Content Category: Patient Safety
Cognitive level required for a response: Analysis
Tasks on the CPHQ exam content outline to which the question is linked: Perform or
coordinate risk management
,Question 3 of 105
A point prevalence survey in 2010 showed that the overall prevalence proportion of healthcare-
associated infections in a hospital system was 7.3%. In 1990, the prevalence proportion was
8.1%. A hypothesis test for the difference between the two prevalence proportions gave a P-
value of 0.029.
Which of the following is the most accurate interpretation of the results?
1. The prevalence of healthcare-associated infections in 2010 is significantly lower than that
in 1990.
2. The prevalence of healthcare-associated infections in 2010 is lower than that in 1990, but
there is a small chance that, in reality, there was no difference in the prevalences.
3. The prevalence of healthcare-associated infections in 2010 is higher than that in 1990 but
there is a moderate chance that, in reality, there was no difference in the prevalences.
4. The prevalence of healthcare-associated infections in 2010 is slightly lower than that in
1990.
Answer: B
The prevalence of healthcare-associated infections is lower in 2010 than in 1990. Therefore, the
third answer option (C ) should be eliminated. The final answer option (D) is ambiguous -the
term "slight" carries no meaning in statistics or in healthcare quality. Some candidates might
have chosen the first answer option because the P-value was lower than 0.05. However, the level
of significance for the hypothesis test was not stated. It could have been 0.01 (in which case it
would not have been a "significant result") or 0.10 (in which case it would have been
significant). The most accurate interpretation of the result is this: the prevalence of healthcare-
associated infections in 2010 is lower than that in 1990, but there is a small (2.9% probability)
that the result would have been observed, due to chance, if there was in truth no difference
between the two prevalences. The correct answer for this question is B.
Content Category: Information Management
Cognitive level required for a response: Application
Tasks on the CPHQ exam content outline to which the question is linked: Use the results of
statistical techniques to evaluate data (e.g. t-test, regression)
Question 4 of 105
Which of the following is most effective in communicating instructions to patients before their
discharge from hospital?
1. In addition to clear verbal instructions, the caregiver conveys all instructions in written
form.
2. The caregiver gives verbal instructions on more than one occasion before the patient's
discharge from hospital.
3. The caregiver communicates the same instructions to a member of the patient's family.
, 4. The caregiver communicates instructions to the patient and then asks the patient to
explain what he/she has just been informed to do.
Answer: D
Each of the four communication strategies above could be applied. However, "teach back"
(answer option D) is probably the most effective technique to communicate instructions to
patients. According to the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (2001) report Making
Health Care Safer, "Asking that patients recall and restate what they have been told" is one of 11
top patient safety practices based on strength of scientific evidence.
Content Category: Performance Measurement and Improvement
Cognitive level required for a response: Application
Tasks on the CPHQ exam content outline to which the question is linked: Facilitate
evaluation or selection of evidence-based practice guidelines (e.g. for standing orders or as
guidelines for physician ordering practice)
Question 5 of 105
Among the following factors, competency assessment of staff is LEAST influenced by data
related to
1. productivity.
2. feedback from patients, families, and staff.
3. performance improvement findings relative to performance standards in the job
description.
4. knowledge of administrative policies and procedures.
Answer: D
The first three answer options support staff competency assessment. Whilst knowledge of
administrative policies and procedures may be required for some jobs, the other factors are
stronger in evaluating an employee's competency and skill gaps.
Content Category: Performance Measurement and Improvement
Cognitive level required for a response: Recall
Tasks on the CPHQ exam content outline to which the question is linked: Incorporate
performance improvement into the employee performance appraisal system
Question 6 of 105
The senior leaders of a managed care organization have consulted a healthcare quality
professional on the purchase of a clinical data management software system to support
performance improvement.
Which of the following is the most important issue in identifying the system requirements?
