Original scientific paper
https://doi.org/10.22514/SV132.112017.12
Estimating poisoning substance amounts: Comparative study of the accuracy of health care professionals and non-practitioners
CHOI YOON HEE
; Ewha Womans University Medical Center 911-1 Mokdong Yangcheon-gu Seoul, Korea
LEE DONG HOON
LEE DUK HEE
Abstract
Objective. Intentional or unintentional
substance intoxications are common in
patients presenting to the Emergency
Department (ED). When we treat intoxicated
patients, it is important to know the
amount of drug ingestion. We invested the
actual amount of semi-quantitative term
expressed by patients, and investigated the
accuracy of amount estimates by the public
and healthcare professionals.
Participants and interventions. 200 volunteers
(86 health care providers and 114
non-practitioners) participated. Participants
grabbed the 3 types of tablets (5mm,
10mm, and 15mm) in handfuls and fistfuls
and estimated the tablet amounts. Actual
amounts were measured. 100 volunteers
(58 health care providers and 41 non-practitioners)
participated in the investigation
of accuracy of liquid amount estimation.
Participant ingested water in 2.6 cm diameter
bottle in response to request to take 1
sip, 1 mouthful, and 3 sips.
Results. The estimated tablet counts became
more accurate in terms of both fistfuls
and handfuls as the size increased
within the same shape classification. Participants
tended to underestimate the
counts of oval-shaped tablets to a greater
extent than round tablets of the same
size. The estimated liquids both groups of
participants tended to underestimate the
amounts but both groups overestimated
the volumes when drinking 3 continuous
sips. In tablets and liquids, there were no
statistically significant differences in accuracy
between the groups.
Conclusions. When approaching intoxicated
patients who have visited emergency
department (ED), treatment should be implemented
based on the assumption that
the actual ingested amounts are higher
than the amounts estimated by patients.
Keywords
intoxication; tablets; amount; estimation; liquids
Hrčak ID:
190615
URI
Publication date:
12.12.2017.
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