Related Experiment Video

Updated: Oct 14, 2025

Expedited Radiation Biodosimetry by Automated Dicentric Chromosome Identification ADCI and Dose Estimation
10:33

Expedited Radiation Biodosimetry by Automated Dicentric Chromosome Identification ADCI and Dose Estimation

Published on: September 4, 2017

15.9K

The impact of paediatric dose range checking software

Matthew Neame1, James Moss2, Jordi Saez Dominguez2

  • 1Women's and Children's Health, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK matthewneame@nhs.net.

European Journal of Hospital Pharmacy : Science and Practice
|November 3, 2021
PubMed

Insights

Paediatric dose range checking (DRC) clinical decision support (CDS) software did not reduce overdosing errors in prescriptions. However, the severity of harm from overdosing incidents may have decreased, and prescribers found the software beneficial.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Healthcare
  • Clinical Decision Support Systems
  • Medication Safety

Background:

  • Dosing errors in pediatric healthcare can lead to severe harm.
  • Clinical decision support (CDS) software, specifically dose range checking (DRC), is implemented to mitigate these risks.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the impact of paediatric DRC CDS software on overdosing-related outcomes in a hospital setting.

Main Methods:

  • A before-after study was conducted in a regional children's hospital, excluding intensive care units.
  • DRC CDS software was integrated into the electronic prescribing system.
  • Outcomes measured included prescription overdosing error rates, clinical incidents, severity of harm, and prescriber acceptability.

Main Results:

  • The rate of prescription overdosing errors remained statistically unchanged after software implementation (1.4% pre-intervention vs. 1.3% post-intervention).
  • A significant trend towards reduced severity of harm from overdosing incidents was observed.
  • Prescribers perceived the DRC CDS software as beneficial and identified factors contributing to persistent errors.

Conclusions:

  • Paediatric DRC CDS software did not decrease the incidence of prescription overdosing errors.
  • The software may reduce the severity of harm associated with overdosing incidents and appears safe and beneficial to prescribers.
Abstract

Keywords:
computer assisted prescribing (CPOE)electronic prescribingmedical errorspaediatricsquality in health care

More Related Videos

X-ray Dose Reduction through Adaptive Exposure in Fluoroscopic Imaging08:30

X-ray Dose Reduction through Adaptive Exposure in Fluoroscopic Imaging

Published on: September 11, 2011

14.6K
Author Spotlight: Improving Radiation Therapy Access with Radiation Planning Assistant05:18

Author Spotlight: Improving Radiation Therapy Access with Radiation Planning Assistant

Published on: October 6, 2023

1.6K

Related Concept Videos

Drug Dosing: Infants and Children01:29

Drug Dosing: Infants and Children

Pediatric patient dosages diverge from adults due to disparities in body surface area, total body water, and extracellular fluid per kilogram of body weight. The dosing regimen considers the variations in pharmacokinetics and pharmacology across distinct age groups, encompassing preterm newborns, infants, young children, older children, and adolescents. Calculation of pediatric patient doses is predicated on determining body surface area, which exhibits a superior correlation with the child's...
36
Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Excretion01:26

Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Excretion

In pediatric medicine, understanding the renal function and drug elimination nuances is crucial for administering safe and effective treatments. Newborns, in particular, display markedly slower renal functions than adults, profoundly affecting how drugs are cleared from their bodies. This slower drug clearance requires clinicians to extend the dosing intervals for many medications to prevent drug accumulation and toxicity while ensuring therapeutic efficacy.One key area where these adjustments...
23
Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Distribution01:17

Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Distribution

Drug distribution in the pediatric population exhibits unique challenges and considerations due to the physiological differences between children, particularly neonates and infants, and adults. A crucial aspect of pediatric pharmacology is understanding how these differences impact the pharmacokinetics of various drugs, necessitating age-specific dosing strategies to ensure efficacy and safety.Neonates and infants have a higher total body water content, ~75%–90% of their body weight,...
27
Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Metabolism01:24

Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Metabolism

In pediatric care, understanding the nuances of hepatic drug metabolism is crucial, as it significantly differs from that of adults. This divergence is primarily due to the developmental stage of drug-metabolizing enzymes, which affects how medications are processed in the body. In neonates, for instance, the activity of Phase I enzymes—critical for the initial breakdown of drugs—is markedly reduced, functioning at just 20–40% of the levels seen in adults. This reduction poses...
32
Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Overview and Drug Absorption01:23

Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Overview and Drug Absorption

Understanding the physiological differences in the pediatric population is crucial for effective pharmacotherapy. Neonates, infants, and children exhibit significant variations in gastric pH, gastric emptying time, intestinal transit time, and biliary function. These variations profoundly affect oral drug absorption, necessitating a nuanced approach to pediatric dosing.Neonates present with a unique physiological profile, having a gastric pH greater than 4 and faster and more irregular gastric...
23
Dose Size and Dosing Frequency: Determination Methods01:21

Dose Size and Dosing Frequency: Determination Methods

Determining the optimal dose size and dosing frequency in pharmacotherapy is crucial for achieving therapeutic effectiveness while minimizing adverse effects. This article explores the methodologies employed in determining these parameters, focusing on their significance and interplay to tailor dosing regimens.Dose Size: Dose size refers to the amount of a drug administered in a single dose. It is determined based on the drug's pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics properties and...
17