Which type of analysis is used to identify why a needlestick injury occurred and determine actions to reduce recurrence?

• A. Root Cause Analysis (RCA)
• B. SWOT Analysis
• C. Cost-Benefit Analysis
• D. Meta-analysis

Answer: (A)

When a needlestick injury happens, you want to uncover the underlying reasons that allowed it to occur, not just describe the surface events. Root Cause Analysis is the approach designed for this purpose: it digs through the sequence of factors, such as workflow gaps, device design or maintenance issues, training gaps, or safety culture problems, to identify the fundamental causes. By pinpointing these root causes, you can implement targeted corrective actions that reduce the chance of recurrence—like choosing safer sharps, changing disposal procedures, improving supervision or training, and adjusting workloads or processes. A typical RCA approach involves defining the incident, gathering and reviewing data, mapping how the event unfolded, identifying contributing factors, determining root causes, and then designing and monitoring corrective actions to ensure they’re effective. This focus on system-level contributors and preventive changes is what sets RCA apart. In contrast, SWOT analysis looks at strategic strengths and weaknesses, cost-benefit analysis weighs financial trade-offs, and meta-analysis combines results from multiple studies—none of these specifically target investigating a single incident to prevent its recurrence.