Madlon-Kay D J, Mosch F S
Department of Family Medicine, Regions Hospital, St Paul, MN 55101-2595, USA.
J Fam Pract. 2000 Aug;49(8):741-4.
Our goal was to examine the following issues relevant to the use of liquid medications: (1) which liquid medication dosing devices are commonly owned and used; (2) the ability of potential patients to accurately measure liquids using 3 different dosing devices; (3) their ability to correctly interpret a variety of dosing instructions; and (4) their ability to correctly interpret a pediatric dosing chart.
One hundred thirty volunteers from the waiting areas of 3 primary care clinics in the St. Paul, Minnesota, area were interviewed. Participants were shown 7 liquid dosing devices and were asked which they had in their homes and which they had ever used. The participants were tested and scored on their ability to measure liquid medicines and interpret dosing instructions accurately. The total performance score was determined, with a maximum obtainable score of 11.
A household teaspoon was the device most frequently used for measuring liquid medication. Women and participants with more education had higher total performance scores. Common errors included misinterpreting instructions, confusing teaspoons and tablespoons on a medicine cup, and misreading a dosage chart when weight and age were discordant.
Clinicians need to be aware that many people continue to use inaccurate devices for measuring liquid medication, such as household spoons. They should encourage the use of more accurate devices, particularly the oral dosing syringe. Clinicians should always consider the possibility of a medication dosing error when faced with an apparent treatment failure.
我们的目标是研究与液体药物使用相关的以下问题：（1）哪些液体药物给药装置是常见的拥有和使用的；（2）潜在患者使用3种不同给药装置准确测量液体的能力；（3）他们正确解读各种给药说明的能力；以及（4）他们正确解读儿科给药图表的能力。
对明尼苏达州圣保罗地区3家初级保健诊所候诊区的130名志愿者进行了访谈。向参与者展示了7种液体给药装置，并询问他们家中有哪些以及他们曾经使用过哪些。对参与者测量液体药物和准确解读给药说明的能力进行了测试和评分。确定了总表现得分，最高可得分为11分。
家用茶匙是最常用于测量液体药物的装置。女性和受教育程度较高的参与者总表现得分较高。常见错误包括误解说明、在药杯上混淆茶匙和汤匙，以及在体重和年龄不一致时误读剂量图表。
临床医生需要意识到，许多人仍在使用不准确的装置来测量液体药物，如家用汤匙。他们应该鼓励使用更准确的装置，特别是口服给药注射器。当面对明显的治疗失败时，临床医生应始终考虑药物给药错误的可能性。
