IC&RC Prevention Specialist cheat sheet

Needs assessment should triangulate epidemiological, community, and archival data; a priority is stronger when at least two independent data sources agree.

Logic model order: inputs → activities → outputs → short-term outcomes → intermediate outcomes → long-term outcomes; each link states an assumed causal relationship.

SMART objective format: Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound; include who, what change, how much, and by when.

Incidence = new cases during a period ÷ population at risk; prevalence = all existing cases at a point or period ÷ total population.

Process evaluation indicators include reach, dose delivered, dose received, fidelity, and implementation quality.

Outcome evaluation tests changes in knowledge, attitudes, skills, behavior, or health status; impact evaluation tests long-term population-level change.

Cost-benefit analysis compares monetary costs with monetized benefits; cost-effectiveness analysis reports cost per unit of a non-monetized outcome.

Random sampling supports generalizability; convenience sampling limits inference because selection is not random.

Reliability is consistency of measurement; validity is whether an instrument measures the intended construct.

Universal prevention addresses the whole population; selective prevention addresses groups at above-average risk; indicated prevention addresses individuals with early signs.

Evidence-based program implementation requires fidelity to core components; adaptations should be documented and should not remove elements linked to outcomes.

Fidelity has five common dimensions: adherence, dosage, quality of delivery, participant responsiveness, and program differentiation.

Health Belief Model constructs: perceived susceptibility, perceived severity, perceived benefits, perceived barriers, cues to action, and self-efficacy.

Social learning theory holds that behavior is learned through observation, modeling, reinforcement, and self-efficacy.

Stages of change: precontemplation, contemplation, preparation, action, maintenance; relapse can move a person to an earlier stage.

Motivational interviewing core skills are OARS: open questions, affirmations, reflections, and summaries; confrontation increases resistance.

Harm reduction lowers risks without requiring abstinence as a precondition for services.

Cultural adaptation addresses language, literacy, norms, and context; community input improves fit and uptake.

Basic communication model: sender → message → channel → receiver → feedback; noise can disrupt any element.

Gain-framed messages emphasize benefits of acting; loss-framed messages emphasize costs of not acting.

Plain language and teach-back support health literacy; general public materials are often written at a 5th–8th grade reading level.

Formative testing uses focus groups, intercept interviews, and pretesting before a campaign launch.

Tailoring customizes a message to an individual; targeting customizes a message to a population segment.

Risk communication should acknowledge uncertainty, give specific actionable steps, and repeat key messages.

Active listening includes paraphrasing, reflecting feelings, clarifying, and summarizing.

Media advocacy uses news media to shape public debate and policy, not only individual awareness.

Confidentiality requires sharing only the minimum necessary information and obtaining consent before releasing identifying data.

Community readiness stages: no awareness, denial, vague awareness, preplanning, preparation, initiation, stabilization, expansion/professionalization.

Asset mapping inventories community strengths, skills, organizations, and resources before needs are prioritized.

A coalition needs a shared mission, diverse membership, formal structure, action plan, and evaluation plan.

Key informant interviews and community forums collect local history, priorities, and perceived barriers.

Gatekeepers control access to settings or populations; early engagement improves entry and trust.

Coalition development phases: formation, organization, implementation, maintenance, and evaluation.

Consensus decision-making seeks agreement; majority vote is a fallback when consensus cannot be reached.

Sustainability planning starts at coalition formation and includes local capacity, diversified resources, and institutionalized policies.

Community competence means members have the skills, relationships, and power to act on their own priorities.

Environmental strategies change availability, access, pricing, promotion, or policies rather than relying only on individual education.

Policy tools include taxation, minimum purchase age, zoning, licensing, advertising restrictions, and retail density limits.

Social host liability holds hosts accountable for underage drinking or substance use on their property.

Compliance checks test whether retailers follow age-of-sale laws by using a minor under controlled conditions.

Public policy process: agenda setting, formulation, adoption, implementation, and evaluation.

Preemption occurs when a higher-level law restricts or overrides local authority, sometimes blocking stricter local ordinances.

Policy surveillance tracks laws and regulations across jurisdictions and over time to support evaluation.

Enforcement deterrence is stronger when paired with visible publicity and consistent consequences.

Media advocacy frames public issues and pressures decision-makers; it complements enforcement and policy change.

Ethical practice requires competence within scope, informed consent, confidentiality, and avoidance of dual relationships.

Certification renewal usually requires continuing education, including ethics hours; verify exact requirements with the credentialing board.

Scope of practice defines authorized roles and services; refer when a client's needs exceed the specialist's training.

Supervision and consultation support ethical decision-making, especially when rules conflict or risk is unclear.

Cultural humility is lifelong self-reflection, learning about others, and redressing power imbalances.

Documentation should be objective, timely, factual, and secure; correct errors with addenda rather than altering originals.

Confidentiality exceptions include imminent danger, suspected child or elder abuse, and valid court orders, as defined by law.

Conflict of interest exists when personal, financial, or professional interests could bias judgment; disclose and recuse when appropriate.

Professional development includes continuing education, credential advancement, networking, and self-care.