Drug calculation ability of qualified paramedics:A pilot study

作     者：Malcolm J.Boyle Kathryn Eastwood 

作者机构：School of Medicine Griffith University School of Nursing and Midwifery Monash University 

出 版 物：《World Journal of Emergency Medicine》 (世界急诊医学杂志（英文）)

年 卷 期：2018年第9卷第1期

页      面：41-45页

核心收录：

学科分类：0401[教育学-教育学] 04[教育学] 1002[医学-临床医学] 040110[教育学-教育技术学（可授教育学、理学学位）] 

主　　题：Emergency medical technician Education Medication errors Safety management 

摘      要：BACKGROUND: The inability of paramedics to perform accurate calculations may result in a compromise of patient safety which may result from under or over dosing of drugs, incorrect joules for defibrillation, or a major adverse event such as death. The objective of this study was to identify the drug calculation and mathematical ability of qualified operational ***: The study used a cross-sectional design with a paper-based calculation questionnaire. Twenty paramedics enrolled in an intensive care paramedic course were eligible to participate in the study. The questionnaire consisted of demographic, drug calculation(seven questions), and mathematical(five) questions. Students were given no notice of the impending study and use of a calculator was not ***: All eligible students participated in the study. The average time employed as a paramedic was 7.25 years, SD 2.5 years, range four years to twelve years. Four(20%) students got all 12 questions correct, and five(41.6%) got 50% or less. The average score was 8.6(71.7%) correct, SD 2.8 correct, range 3 to 12 correct questions. There were eight(40%) conceptual errors, 12(60%) arithmetical errors, and five(25%) computational ***: The results from this study supports similar international studies where paramedic s ability to undertake mathematical and drug calculations without a calculator varies, with some results highlighting the paramedics mathematical skills as a potential risk to patient safety. These results highlight the need for regular continuing mathematical and drug calculation practice and education to ensure a lower error rate.