For the study, researchers conducted a randomized controlled experiment in three pediatric clinics involving more than 2,000 parents. The parents were asked to measure out nine medication doses in accordance with instructions. Assessment revealed that 84.4 percent of parents made at least one dosing error — 21 percent of parents made one or more “large” errors as deemed by researchers. Measurements made with cups proved more problematic for parents than those made with syringes. Cups were associated with a four-fold increase in the likelihood of measurement error when compared with syringes.
“Liquid measurement is complicated — teaspoons, tablespoons, dispensing cups and more,” Michael Grosso, MD, medical director and CMO of Northwell Health’s Huntington (N.Y.) Hospital, told HealthDay. “And how many people know what in the world a ‘milliliter’ is? We’re asking parents to figure this all out at home, in the dark, with a feverish child.”
Because these types of errors could lead to serious health consequences for children, the study’s authors suggest oral syringes should be the preferred method of dosage measurement.
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