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A Novel Approach for the Administration of Medications and Fluids in Emergency Scenarios and Settings
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A Novel Approach for the Administration of Medications and Fluids in Emergency Scenarios and Settings

Published on: November 9, 2016

Prevention of pediatric drug calculation errors by prehospital care providers

Morgen Bernius1, Bryan Thibodeau, Abby Jones

  • 1Department of Emergency Medicine, Franklin Square Hospital, Baltimore, Maryland 21237, USA. morgen.bernius@gmail.com

Prehospital Emergency Care
|October 17, 2008
PubMed

Insights

Pediatric code cards significantly improve prehospital care providers' accuracy in calculating weight-based drug doses and endotracheal tube sizes. This tool enhances patient safety by reducing medication errors in emergency settings.

Area of Science:

  • Emergency Medicine
  • Pediatric Critical Care
  • Prehospital Care

Background:

  • Pediatric drug dosing in prehospital settings presents significant challenges and error potential.
  • Limited safeguards exist to prevent pediatric medication errors in the field.
  • Accurate weight-based dosing and equipment sizing are critical for pediatric emergency care.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the impact of a protocol-specific pediatric code card on the accuracy of prehospital care providers.
  • To determine if code card use improves calculations of weight-based drug doses, administration volumes, and endotracheal tube sizes.
  • To assess the reduction in errors associated with pediatric emergency medication administration and airway management.

Main Methods:

  • A comparative study involving prehospital care providers in Maryland and the District of Columbia.
  • Participants completed calculation questionnaires, with half using a pediatric code card and half not.
  • Error rates in medication doses and endotracheal tube sizes were compared between the aided and unaided groups.

Main Results:

  • The group using the pediatric code card achieved 94% accuracy in calculations, compared to 65% for the unaided group (29% difference).
  • Correct endotracheal tube size calculation was achieved by 98% of the aided group versus 23% of the unaided group (75% difference).
  • Statistical analysis showed significant improvements in accuracy with code card use (p < 0.001 for both outcomes).

Conclusions:

  • The pediatric code card significantly enhances the accuracy of prehospital care providers.
  • Use of the code card leads to more precise weight-based drug dosing and appropriate endotracheal tube sizing.
  • Implementing pediatric code cards is a viable strategy to improve pediatric emergency care and reduce medication errors.
Abstract

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