H. Shonna Yin|Benard P. Dreyer|Donna C. Ugboaja|Dayana C. Sanchez|Ian M. Paul|Hannah A. Moreira|L. F. Rodríguez|Alan L. Mendelsohn
Unit of Measurement Used and Parent Medication Dosing Errors
Bellevue Hospital Center|New York University|Bellevue Hospital Center|New York University|Bellevue Hospital Center|New York University|Bellevue Hospital Center|New York University|Pennsylvania State University|Bellevue Hospital Center|New York University|Woodhull Medical and Mental Health Center|New York University|Bellevue Hospital Center|New York University
adopting milliliter preferred unit measurement suggested strategy improve clarity medication instructions teaspoon tablespoon units may inadvertently endorse nonstandard kitchen spoon use examined association unit used parent medication errors whether nonstandard instruments mediate relationshipcrosssectional analysis baseline data larger study provider communication medication errors english spanishspeaking parents n 287 whose children prescribed liquid medications 2 emergency departments enrolled medication error defined error knowledge prescribed dose error observed dose measurement compared intended prescribed dose 20 deviation threshold error multiple logistic regression performed adjusting parent age language country raceethnicity socioeconomic status education health literacy short test functional health literacy adults child age chronic disease sitemedication errors common 394 parents made error measurement intended dose 411 made error prescribed dose furthermore 167 used nonstandard instrument compared parents used milliliteronly parents used teaspoon tablespoon units twice odds making error intended 425 vs 276 p 02 adjusted odds ratio23 95 confidence interval 1244 prescribed 451 vs 314 p 04 adjusted odds ratio19 95 confidence interval 10335 dose associations greater parents low health literacy nonenglish speakers nonstandard instrument use partially mediated teaspoon tablespoonassociated measurement errorsfindings support milliliteronly standard reduce medication errors