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A Novel Approach for the Administration of Medications and Fluids in Emergency Scenarios and Settings
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Undergraduate paramedic students cannot do drug calculations.
Kathryn Eastwood1, Malcolm J Boyle1, Brett Williams1
1Department of Community Emergency Health and Paramedic Practice, Monash University, Frankston 3199, Victoria, Australia.
World Journal of Emergency Medicine
|September 13, 2014
Summary
Undergraduate paramedics demonstrate poor drug calculation skills, with most scoring 50% or less. This indicates a significant risk to patient safety in prehospital care due to mathematical deficiencies.
Area of Science:
- Paramedic education
- Medical mathematics
- Prehospital care
Background:
- Previous studies show poor drug calculation skills in qualified paramedics.
- No prior research existed on undergraduate paramedic mathematical abilities.
- Drug calculation errors are classified as conceptual, arithmetical, or computational.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the accuracy of drug calculations and basic mathematical equations among undergraduate paramedics.
- To identify mathematical deficiencies in future paramedics at a large Australian university.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional study using paper-based questionnaires.
- Collected demographical data, student attitudes, and mathematical/drug calculation performance.
- Administered to undergraduate paramedic students.
Main Results:
- The mean score for correct answers was 39.5%.
- 63% of students scored 50% or less, despite reporting no calculation issues.
- Conceptual errors constituted 48.5% of mistakes, highlighting a fundamental mathematical understanding gap.
Conclusions:
- Undergraduate paramedics exhibit significant deficiencies in accurate calculation abilities.
- Conceptual errors suggest a lack of fundamental mathematical understanding.
- The current mathematical competence level is unacceptable for safe prehospital practice.
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