Certified Professional in Patient Safety (CPPS) Practice Exam

What kind of analysis involves continuously asking "why" to determine the cause of an error?

1. Root cause analysis

2. Process analysis

3. Failure mode and effects analysis

4. Event report analysis

The correct answer is: Root cause analysis

The correct choice is root cause analysis, which involves a systematic approach to identifying the underlying reasons for a particular issue or error. This method hinges on the principle of continuously asking "why" to probe deeper into the layers of causation, rather than stopping at surface-level symptoms. By engaging in this iterative questioning process, practitioners are able to uncover the fundamental causes that contributed to the error, which may include human factors, system deficiencies, or process flaws. This deep dive into causation is imperative in efforts to implement effective corrective actions and prevent recurrence. It emphasizes not only understanding what went wrong, but also why it happened in the first place, fostering an environment focused on learning and improvement. Other methodologies listed, such as process analysis, failure mode and effects analysis, and event report analysis, serve different purposes. Process analysis typically evaluates the efficiency and effectiveness of existing processes; failure mode and effects analysis is often proactive, assessing potential failures before they occur; and event report analysis focuses more on collecting and reviewing reports of incidents rather than delving deeply into the causes. Therefore, root cause analysis uniquely addresses the fundamental "why" behind an error, making it the most fitting choice.