Monthly QI Quiz
NICHQ’s QI Quizzes test your knowledge on how to use quality improvement to make sustainable, system-level change. Be sure to come back each month to see how you measure up and learn practical strategies for executing your own quality improvement project.
June 2013
Once you've submitted your best guess, click the button below to see the answer!
E: All of the above
All of the statements are basic tenets about testing change in a quality improvement setting. It is important to test small initially to minimize risk. Testing across a wide variety of conditions helps you determine if the change is an improvement. All tests of change should have a question you are trying to answer, a prediction about what will happen and a plan for collecting data. This prepares you to analyze your results and decide if more tests-and what kinds of tests-are still needed before adopting a change. Lastly, quality improvement is all about learning as you go and adjusting your tests of change as you obtain more data.
May 2013
A: Updating policies
Standardization typically includes establishing procedures that help guide the change process. Answer B, testing new job descriptions, is an example of documentation. Answer C, providing staff training, is an example of training. Answer D, purchasing new equipment, is an example of resourcing.
April 2013
D: Answers A, B and C
When it comes to building an effective project team, having leadership personnel on your team (A and C) helps encourage buy-in from others in the system, and having representatives from all levels involved in the change process (B) is essential to the success of a quality improvement project.
March 2013
F. None
All of the descriptions for the four types of measures are correct. Collectively, the measures help those using quality improvement methods to know if they have been successful.
February 2013
B. Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA)
As part of the Model for Improvement, Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) cycles are used to rapidly test and implement changes in real work settings by planning a change, trying the change, observing the results and acting on what is learned. The PDSA cycle guides the test of a change to determine if the change is an improvement.
January 2013
Answer: C. Who are we trying to change?
The Model for Improvement is designed to address change at the system-level, not the individual-level. The first part of the model consists of 3 fundamental questions, which can be addressed in any order:
- What are we trying to accomplish? (setting aims)
- How will we know if a change is an improvement? (establishing measures)
- What changes can we make that will result in improvement? (selecting changes to test)
