Abstract
Background and Objectives A recent American Academy of Pediatrics policy statement recommends milliliter-exclusive dosing for pediatric liquid medications. Little is known about parent preferences regarding units, perceptions about moving to milliliters only, and the role of health literacy and prior milliliter-dosing experience. Methods Cross-sectional analysis of data collected as part of a randomized controlled study in 3 urban pediatric clinics (SAFE Rx for Kids study). English- and Spanish-speaking parents (n = 493) of children aged ≤8 years were randomized to 1 of 4 study arms and given labels and dosing tools which varied in label instruction format (text plus pictogram, text only) and units (milliliter only [“mL”], milliliter/teaspoon [“mL”/“tsp”]). Outcomes included teaspoon preference in dosing instructions and perceived difficulty with milliliter-only dosing. The predictor variable was health literacy (Newest Vital Sign; low [0–1], marginal [2–3], adequate [4–6]). The mediating variable was prior milliliter-dosing experience. Results Over two-thirds of parents had low or marginal health literacy. The majority (>70%) preferred to use milliliters, perceived milliliter-only dosing to be easy, and had prior milliliter-dosing experience; 11.5% had a teaspoon preference, 18.1% perceived milliliter-only dosing will be difficult, and 17.7% had no prior milliliter-dosing experience. Parents with lower health literacy had a higher odds of having a teaspoon preference (low vs adequate: adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 2.9 [95% confidence interval [CI] 1.3–6.2]), and greater odds of perceiving difficulty with milliliter-only dosing (low vs adequate: AOR = 13.9 [95% CI 4.8–40.6], marginal vs adequate: AOR = 7.1 [95% CI 2.5–20.4]). Lack of experience with milliliter dosing partially mediated the impact of health literacy. Conclusions Most parents were comfortable with milliliter-only dosing. Parents with low health literacy were more likely to perceive milliliter-only dosing to be difficult; educational efforts will need to target this group to ensure safe medication use.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 26-34 |
| Number of pages | 9 |
| Journal | Academic Pediatrics |
| Volume | 18 |
| Issue number | 1 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Jan 1 2018 |
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Keywords
- ambulatory care
- dosing errors
- dosing units
- health communication
- health literacy
- medication errors
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Pediatrics, Perinatology, and Child Health
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Parent Preferences and Perceptions of Milliliters and Teaspoons : Role of Health Literacy and Experience. / Torres, Alejandro; Parker, Ruth M.; Sanders, Lee M.; Wolf, Michael S.; Bailey, Stacy Cooper; Patel, Deesha A.; Jimenez, Jessica J.; Kim, Kwang Youn A.; Dreyer, Benard P.; Mendelsohn, Alan L.; Yin, H. Shonna.
In: Academic Pediatrics, Vol. 18, No. 1, 01.01.2018, p. 26-34.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
TY - JOUR
T1 - Parent Preferences and Perceptions of Milliliters and Teaspoons
T2 - Role of Health Literacy and Experience
AU - Torres, Alejandro
AU - Parker, Ruth M.
AU - Sanders, Lee M.
AU - Wolf, Michael S.
AU - Bailey, Stacy Cooper
AU - Patel, Deesha A.
AU - Jimenez, Jessica J.
AU - Kim, Kwang Youn A.
AU - Dreyer, Benard P.
AU - Mendelsohn, Alan L.
AU - Yin, H. Shonna
PY - 2018/1/1
Y1 - 2018/1/1
N2 - Background and Objectives A recent American Academy of Pediatrics policy statement recommends milliliter-exclusive dosing for pediatric liquid medications. Little is known about parent preferences regarding units, perceptions about moving to milliliters only, and the role of health literacy and prior milliliter-dosing experience. Methods Cross-sectional analysis of data collected as part of a randomized controlled study in 3 urban pediatric clinics (SAFE Rx for Kids study). English- and Spanish-speaking parents (n = 493) of children aged ≤8 years were randomized to 1 of 4 study arms and given labels and dosing tools which varied in label instruction format (text plus pictogram, text only) and units (milliliter only [“mL”], milliliter/teaspoon [“mL”/“tsp”]). Outcomes included teaspoon preference in dosing instructions and perceived difficulty with milliliter-only dosing. The predictor variable was health literacy (Newest Vital Sign; low [0–1], marginal [2–3], adequate [4–6]). The mediating variable was prior milliliter-dosing experience. Results Over two-thirds of parents had low or marginal health literacy. The majority (>70%) preferred to use milliliters, perceived milliliter-only dosing to be easy, and had prior milliliter-dosing experience; 11.5% had a teaspoon preference, 18.1% perceived milliliter-only dosing will be difficult, and 17.7% had no prior milliliter-dosing experience. Parents with lower health literacy had a higher odds of having a teaspoon preference (low vs adequate: adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 2.9 [95% confidence interval [CI] 1.3–6.2]), and greater odds of perceiving difficulty with milliliter-only dosing (low vs adequate: AOR = 13.9 [95% CI 4.8–40.6], marginal vs adequate: AOR = 7.1 [95% CI 2.5–20.4]). Lack of experience with milliliter dosing partially mediated the impact of health literacy. Conclusions Most parents were comfortable with milliliter-only dosing. Parents with low health literacy were more likely to perceive milliliter-only dosing to be difficult; educational efforts will need to target this group to ensure safe medication use.
AB - Background and Objectives A recent American Academy of Pediatrics policy statement recommends milliliter-exclusive dosing for pediatric liquid medications. Little is known about parent preferences regarding units, perceptions about moving to milliliters only, and the role of health literacy and prior milliliter-dosing experience. Methods Cross-sectional analysis of data collected as part of a randomized controlled study in 3 urban pediatric clinics (SAFE Rx for Kids study). English- and Spanish-speaking parents (n = 493) of children aged ≤8 years were randomized to 1 of 4 study arms and given labels and dosing tools which varied in label instruction format (text plus pictogram, text only) and units (milliliter only [“mL”], milliliter/teaspoon [“mL”/“tsp”]). Outcomes included teaspoon preference in dosing instructions and perceived difficulty with milliliter-only dosing. The predictor variable was health literacy (Newest Vital Sign; low [0–1], marginal [2–3], adequate [4–6]). The mediating variable was prior milliliter-dosing experience. Results Over two-thirds of parents had low or marginal health literacy. The majority (>70%) preferred to use milliliters, perceived milliliter-only dosing to be easy, and had prior milliliter-dosing experience; 11.5% had a teaspoon preference, 18.1% perceived milliliter-only dosing will be difficult, and 17.7% had no prior milliliter-dosing experience. Parents with lower health literacy had a higher odds of having a teaspoon preference (low vs adequate: adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 2.9 [95% confidence interval [CI] 1.3–6.2]), and greater odds of perceiving difficulty with milliliter-only dosing (low vs adequate: AOR = 13.9 [95% CI 4.8–40.6], marginal vs adequate: AOR = 7.1 [95% CI 2.5–20.4]). Lack of experience with milliliter dosing partially mediated the impact of health literacy. Conclusions Most parents were comfortable with milliliter-only dosing. Parents with low health literacy were more likely to perceive milliliter-only dosing to be difficult; educational efforts will need to target this group to ensure safe medication use.
KW - ambulatory care
KW - dosing errors
KW - dosing units
KW - health communication
KW - health literacy
KW - medication errors
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85020778898&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85020778898&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.acap.2017.04.001
DO - 10.1016/j.acap.2017.04.001
M3 - Article
VL - 18
SP - 26
EP - 34
JO - Academic Pediatrics
JF - Academic Pediatrics
SN - 1876-2859
IS - 1
ER -