Idiot Test: Am I An Idiot Quiz? (CRA Version)

When your ideas just aren’t clicking… bring out the big tools.

Welcome to the CRA Idiot Test—where common sense meets clinical research! Think you’ve got what it takes to spot absurdities and keep a straight face? 🤔

Put your CRA instincts to the test! Just remember, this isn’t your average SOP quiz; it’s designed to see if you’ve mastered the fine art of spotting the hilarious (and sometimes absurd) scenarios that can crop up in clinical research. Good luck—you might just surprise yourself!

First challenge: Figure out how to start the Quiz…

You ask the PI how the site is going to improve patient retention and PI replies that they are locking up patients for the study duration. How do you react?

Perform a facilities tour to confirm no breakout is possible

Remind the PI that patient retention should be voluntary and re-train on ethical retention strategies.

Laugh about the joke, and continue discussing the real retention strategies

Increase the site budget for snacks and Wi-Fi to keep the subjects happier while they’re “locked up.”

None

You’re reviewing a patient file and find a missing signature on the consent form. What do you do?

Sign it. It is CRAs job to fill out missing gaps.

Inquire if site possesses a time machine to go back and make sure they signed it.

Politely remind the site to obtain the missing signature and document the discrepancy.

Notify FDA

None

The Principal Investigator insists they “improved” the protocol without telling anyone. What’s your response?

Agee, as the Investigator is the expert.

Notify the sponsor and kindly explain to the site to adhere to the original protocol.

Close my eyes and assume blinded CRA role.

Share the improved protocol with other sites

None

You notice temperature logs haven’t been completed for two days. What should you do?

Draw little thermometer doodles on the missing entries.

Ask the site to add numbers they think might be correct.

Document the issue and ask the site to clarify.

Google the missing temperatures.

None

The study coordinator is absent, and the site can’t find a backup. How do you handle it?

Step in as “honorary study coordinator” for the day.

Call the police and file a missing person’s report.

Document the absence and schedule a follow-up.

Leave a life-size cardboard cutout of yourself and sneak out.

None

A subject’s note mentions that patient has taken an extra dose. How do you respond?

Tell them to balance it out by skipping the next one.

Ask to remove this information form the source so that data looks clean.

Document the event and notify the site to check on patient’s safety and to re-train the subject.

Ask if they enjoyed the “bonus round.”

None

You’re doing source document verification, and the PI’s handwriting looks like ancient hieroglyphics. What’s your strategy?

Guess what it says and hope for the best.

Bring out a Rosetta Stone for decoding.

Ask the site staff for clarification.

Enroll in a crash course in medical hieroglyphics.

None

The site wants to switch to their own logs instead using study logs without telling the sponsor. What do you do?

Pretend you didn’t hear that.

Suggest they get permission before the sponsor has a meltdown.

Tell them it’s a free-for-all; any log will do!

Threaten them to reconsider this decision.

None

The PI offers to change subject data to “look better.” How do you respond?

Hand them a whiteout pen for convenience.

Explain that data integrity is not optional.

Offer to make a PowerPoint presentation on honesty.

Smile awkwardly and slowly back away.

None

You notice a discrepancy between source documents and the CRF. How do you proceed?

Correct the source data, because source has to match CRF data.

Hope no one notices it.

Document the discrepancy, raise a query if needed and bring it to the site’s attention.

Shred incorrect documents and ask to complete new ones.

None

You find an outdated protocol version in use. What’s the correct response?

Start using it as a paper airplane.

Tell the site to switch to the latest version and document the issue.

Suggest they frame it as a historic relic.

Depends. If the old one was better, keep the old one and discard the new one to ensure consistency.

None

The PI leaves for vacation during a scheduled visit. What do you do?

Throw a party in their office.

Use their office as your own until they return.

Conduct the visit with the study coordinator and note the PI’s absence.

Hire a freelance PI for the duration

None

A study subject is late to their visit, so the staff mark it as “completed.” What should you say?

Add a “Better late than never” sticker to their file.

That is not an issue as Time is relative, after all.

Remind the staff that visits should only be marked as “completed” once they actually occur, and ask them to update the record.

Tell them “So…should we also mark ‘payment’ as completed?“, even if they haven’t been paid yet.

None

The site keeps calling you with basic protocol questions. What’s your move?

Say that your telephone number changed, and send them your fellow CRAs number

Open a YouTube channel where you explain the protocol and send them the link

Schedule additional training for the site staff.

Start charging for each call by the minute.

None

You notice that an investigational product has been stored in the staff room fridge. What do you do?

Tell them that they should not snack the product with the prohibited medications.

Immediately secure the room and tackle everyone down who tries to enter it

Ask the site to follow storage protocol and document the deviation.

Suggest storing it in a hidden vault from now on.

None

The sponsor asks you to increase site visits by 50%. How do you handle this?

Start practicing your teleportation skills.

Order strong caffeine tablets

Discuss workload with your Line Manager to achieve study goals while maintaining the work-life balance

Ask if they provide clone technology for CRAs.

None

1 out of 16

Time’s up