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Study: Medication errors may be greater in sick children

Quality Improvement Monitor, December 2, 2004

The level of medication errors in sick children may be higher than previously thought, according to a study to be released in the December 4 BMJ (British Medical Journal).

The study's authors conducted eight mock resuscitations of patients in the emergency department of a children's hospital. Medication errors occurred in seven of the eight resuscitations. Both nurses and physicians made errors, including incorrect calculation of drug doses, according to the study.

Physicians and nurses should hold regular training sessions to improve team communication during resuscitations, the study's authors suggested. Better communication could help reduce errors, they said.

Researchers videotaped the resuscitations and recorded the drugs ordered and given during the exercises. They also collected syringes and medications prepared during the exercise to analyze the drug concentration and actual amounts administered.

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