Pilot study to determine the ability of health-care professionals to undertake drug dose calculations

Background: It is essential for health-care professionals to calculate drug doses accurately. Previous studies have demonstrated that many hospital doctors were unable to accurately convert dilutions (e.g. 1:1000) or percentages (e.g. percentage w/v) of drug concentrations into mass concentrations (e.g. mg/mL). Aims: The aims of the present study were to evaluate the ability of health-care professionals to perform drug dose calculations accurately and to determine their preferred concentration convention when calculating drug doses. Methods: A selection of nurses, medical students, house surgeons, registrars and pharmacists undertook a written survey to assess their ability to perform five drug dose calculations. Participants were also asked which concentration convention they preferred when calculating drug doses. The surveys were marked then analysed for health-care professionals as a whole and then by subgroup analysis to assess the performance of each health-care-professional group. Results: Overall, less than 14% of the surveyed health-care professionals could answer all five questions correctly. Subgroup analysis revealed that health-care pro-fessionals' ability to calculate drug doses were ranked in the following order: registrars approximate to pharmacists > house surgeons > medical students >> nurses. Ninety per cent of health-care professionals preferred to calculate drug doses using the mass concentration convention. Conclusions: Overall, drug dose calculations were performed poorly. Mass concentration was clearly indicated as the preferred convention for calculating drug doses.

Glazing to entry, Mt. Nebo House

Leadlight windows with stained glass feature panes and timber muntins over french doors with matching leadlight sidelights.

Dining room, Mt. Nebo House

Interior view showing fireplace and mezzanine.

Hallway, Mt. Nebo House

Hallway off main entry to house.

Dormer window, Mt. Nebo House

Arched head leadlight and casement windows with stained glass feature panes and timber muntins. View through window from interior.

Dormer window, Mt. Nebo House

Arched head leadlight window with stained glass feature panes and timber muntins.

Garage-studio interior, Mt. Nebo House

Timber framing and roof skylight detail inside garage-studio.

Upper level, C House, Coorparoo, Brisbane

View along North-West elevation upper level.

Iwan, C House, Coorparoo, Brisbane

As seen from pool deck.

The Nest, C House, Coorparoo, Brisbane

Timber deck with built-in seat overlooking greater landscape beyond.

Pool deck, C House, Coorparoo, Brisbane

View back towards house from deck. with Iwan (right) and filter room (left).

The Nest, C House, Coorparoo, Brisbane

Concrete framework for The Nest (North-West elevation), with timber framework yet to be added.

North-West elevation, C House, Cooparoo, Brisbane

Entry stair in foreground.

Pool deck, C House, Coorparoo, Brisbane

As seen from The Nest above