Steven J. Schweon, BSN, MPH, MSN*, Elaine Larson, RN, PhD, FAAN, FIDSA, FSHEA, FAPIC,
Sandra Callery, RN, MHSc, CIC, LTC-CIP, Jessica Dangles, MBA, MS, PMP
*Corresponding author:
Steven J. Schweon
Steven J. Schweon LLC
142 Owl Hollow Dr.
Saylorsburg, Pa. 18353
Tel: 1-610-390-7756 | email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
SUMMARY
The complexity and risks of long-term care (LTC) resident care have continued to increase, including infection risk as regulatory agencies and the LTC industry seek credible and knowledgeable infection preventionist for their facilities. Developing a LTC infection prevention and control certification exam indicates infection preventionists (IPs) can proficiently manage infection prevention and control programs.
KEYWORDS
Certification, long-term care, infection, examination
INTRODUCTION
Certification, the “voluntary process by which individuals are evaluated against predetermined standards for knowledge, skills, or competencies,” (Institute for Credentialling Excellence, 2023) is a hallmark achievement for IPs and represents the individual’s and their organization’s commitment towards patient and staff safety and continual improvement (Marx et al., 2018). The certification process is designed to assure that there will be a selection of trained professionals who have met established standards of education and experience (Pennell et al., 1971). The federal government endorses certification to reduce costly health manpower training for services reimbursed under federal health insurance programs (U.S. Department of Health, Education and Welfare, 1977).
Professional associations such as Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC) and Infection Prevention and Control Canada (IPAC) have noted a significant increase in the demand for infection prevention
knowledge and application in LTC (Stone et al., 2018,
Augustin et al., 2021).
In 2018, with collaboration from the APIC Board of Directors, The Certification Board of Infection Control and Epidemiology, Inc., (CBIC) began the process of developing a distinct certification pathway for LTC IPs using the same rigorous process as the Certification in Infection Control (CIC) credential. The purpose of this paper is to describe the LTC certification examination developments (Prometric, 2022).
METHODS/PROCESS
Conducting the practice analysis
CBIC commissioned a practice analysis to establish the content validity and test specification for the examination using standardized criteria to obtain information about LTC IP tasks performed and knowledge required to safely implement them. The practice analysis in July and August 2021 involved a multi-method approach that included meetings with 50 North American LTC subject matter experts (SMEs) with the certification ranges from two to 40 years, for item writing, review, and standardizing, prior to distributing the practice analysis (https://www.cbic.org/CBIC/PDFs/CBIC-LTC-Job-Analysis-Report-2021.pdf).
The SMEs rated 106 task and 72 knowledge statements from nine knowledge domains. The “long-term care settings” domain was added to the pre-existing eight domains from the CIC examination. Using a 5-point Likert scale, survey participants also rated the relevance each statement to their practice. The nine domains were:
• Long-term care settings
• Management and communication of the infection prevention program
• Identification of infectious diseases
• Surveillance and epidemiologic investigation
• Prevention and control of infectious and communicable diseases
• Environment of care
• Cleaning, disinfection, sterilization rof medical devices and equipment
• Antimicrobial stewardship
• Employee/occupational health
Of the 2,346 LTC IPs who participated in the survey 1,659 responses qualified for inclusion in the data analysis. Surveys with less than 55% completion rate were excluded from data analysis. The most common settings of respondents were independent living and skilled nursing facilities and the majority reported that each task and knowledge domain was well covered.
Develop test specifications
The “Test Specification Committee” met in September 2021 to review the practice analysis results, create the content outline to guide the LTC examination development, and ensure that only validated task and knowledge statements were included. The analysis was performed with establishing a criterion (cut point) for inclusion. All 106 tasks and 72 knowledge areas achieved high importance ratings and were included with the test development. Each member of the “Test Specification Committee” assigned a percentage weight in each knowledge domain to guide the domain’s emphasis with the test content and the Committee determined the optimal percentage weights for each domain. The approved test content weight for each part was used to guide item writing and examination assembly. Item writing and review:
Item writing and review, the development of items (questions) performed by LTC SMEs, was conducted during May-June 2022. The “Item Review Committee” reviewed
438 test questions developed by the subject-matter experts using a checklist to assess the quality of each test question; 348 questions being approved.
Form review
During July 2022, a form review meeting was held to verify the test items selected for the examinations adequately measured the competent performance of the LTC IP. Both the CIC and the LTC-CIP exams consist of 150 multiple choice questions; 135 test questions are scored and 15 test questions are assessed for future testing considerations.
RESULTS/OUTCOME
Conducting the beta test
Beta (pilot) testing was completed in October 2022. Eligible applicants must meet all of the following requirements:
1. Completed post-secondary education in a health-related field including but not limited to medicine, nursing degree/nursing diploma, laboratory technology, public health, or biology. Post-secondary includes public or private universities, colleges, community colleges, etc.
2. Responsibility for the infection prevention and control programs/activities in a long-term care setting. Candidates will fill out an attestation form confirming this information.
A total of 286 LTC IPs from the United States, Canada, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, United Emirates, and India completed the first exam.
Item analysis
During October 2022, the CBIC LTC SMEs used the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA) criteria to validate the items included in the exam (Institute for Credentialing Excellence, 2021). Each was reviewed to assess whether to retain it, as is, exclude or archive it for future reference, or revise it.
Set the passing score
In November 2022, the CBIC LTC SMEs met to establish a passing standard (i.e., cut score). Results were analyzed, discussed, and each panel member was asked to estimate the percentage of first-time certification candidates who would be expected to pass the examination, based upon established criteria. For the final cut score consideration grouping, there is a continuum between examination candidates who truly do not have the necessary knowledge, skills and abilities and are considered not qualified and those candidates that truly have these attributes and are qualified. Due to the testing process, it’s arduous to have two strictly independent groups.
Throughout the process, more than 1,700 individuals with LTC expertise participated in the various job analysis phases, including task force/test specification and pilot testing. The Long-Term Care-Certification in Infection Prevention (LTC-CIP) was officially launched February 2023.
CONCLUSION
Summation/lessons learned
In the midst of a protracted pandemic and multiple hurdles, APIC initiated the vision and CBIC developed the LTC-CIP certification examination. The CIC examination is accredited by the NCCA, a leading developer of certification standards, which signifies a valid, reliable, and secure certification process (Certification Board of Infection Control and Epidemiology, 2023). The LTC-CIP certification is aligned with the CBIC 2023-2025 vision statement, “a world free of infections through demonstrated professional competency.” (Certification Board of Infection Control and Epidemiology, 2023). Global efforts continue to be underway to demonstrate the importance of certification to regulatory bodies, international public health agencies, and accrediting agencies.
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