The Annals New | Pharmaco Epidemiology and Therapeutic Risk Management
home help contact us subscription past issues search current issue
QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced]


     

The Annals of Pharmacotherapy: Vol. 26, No. 7, pp. 917-918.
© 1992 Harvey Whitney Books Company.
This Article
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrow Articles Ahead of Print
Right arrow [Order Reprint]
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via HighWire
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Litovitz, T
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Litovitz, T

Research Articles

Implication of dispensing cups in dosing errors and pediatric poisonings: a report from the American Association of Poison Control Centers

T Litovitz

OBJECTIVE: To characterize reports to poison centers involving liquid medication errors associated with the use of dispensing cups. DESIGN: Case series reported by 16 US poison centers over an eight-day period. SETTING: Calls to poison control centers, predominantly but not exclusively from homes. PATIENTS: Children and adults. RESULTS: Of 34 reported cases, most (79 percent) involved a two- to threefold dosing error, and most (94 percent) involved an error in a single dose of medication. Cough and cold preparations were implicated in 65 percent; acetaminophen elixirs in 18 percent. Three major causes of dosing errors were identified, including teaspoon/tablespoon confusion, assumption that the dispensing cup was the unit of measure, and assumption that the full dispensing cup was the actual dose. CONCLUSIONS: Dispensing cup markings should use a single unit of measure, and a uniform labeling system should be implemented. Teaspoon/tablespoon abbreviations should be avoided, and dispensing cup lettering should be more legible. Consumer education is essential to correct the misimpression that the full cup is always the recommended dose.


This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
 Arch Pediatr Adolesc MedHome page
H. S. Yin, B. P. Dreyer, L. van Schaick, G. L. Foltin, C. Dinglas, and A. L. Mendelsohn
Randomized Controlled Trial of a Pictogram-Based Intervention to Reduce Liquid Medication Dosing Errors and Improve Adherence Among Caregivers of Young Children
Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med, September 1, 2008; 162(9): 814 - 822.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 The Annals of PharmacotherapyHome page
P. Sobhani, J. Christopherson, P. J Ambrose, and R. L Corelli
Accuracy of Oral Liquid Measuring Devices: Comparison of Dosing Cup and Oral Dosing Syringe
Ann. Pharmacother., January 1, 2008; 42(1): 46 - 52.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 PediatricsHome page
S. R. McMahon, M. E. Rimsza, and R. C. Bay
Parents Can Dose Liquid Medication Accurately
Pediatrics, September 1, 1997; 100(3): 330 - 333.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


homecopy help contact us subscription past issues search current issue
Copyright © 1992 by Harvey Whitney Books Company.