Investigation of intake-output as a means of assessing body fluid balance

This study has demonstrated a mean error in I-O figures of 799.50 cc per day when compared with daily weight calculations. There was no statistically significant correlation between the two values. It is suggested that a change be made in nursing practice. If recording of intake-output is to continue as a nursing practice, then it must be coupled with daily weighings and used only in cases where intake must be limited and/or output carefully monitored. Then the two figures, weight loss and gain and fluid balance, loss or gain, must be compared and causes sought for any variances greater than +/- 250 cc.