Knowledge on drug dosages of ward physicians.
OBJECTIVE
Dosing errors are a common source for preventable adverse drug events. This study evaluated the knowledge of German hospital physicians with respect to the daily dosage of frequently used drugs.


METHODS
A questionnaire survey was carried out among 168 ward physicians from three university and four municipal hospital departments of internal medicine asking for the daily dosage of 17 frequently used drugs.


RESULTS
One hundred twenty-seven of 168 physicians returned a completed questionnaire, a response rate of 75.6%. Only 50% of the dose estimates were within the therapeutic range. Even in cases of frequent prescription 7% of the stated doses were overdosed and 15% were underdosed.


CONCLUSIONS
The results of this survey suggest that adverse drug events and the lack of therapeutic effect due to dosing errors could be prevented by an improved knowledge of daily dosages.
Schnurrer
J U
JU
Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Medizinische Hochschule Hannover, 30623 Hannover, Germany. Schnurrer.Jochen@mh-hannover.de
Stichtenoth
D O
DO
Frölich
J C
JC
D002983:Clinical Competence; D011307:Drug Prescriptions; D064420:Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions; D005858:Germany; D020445:Hospitalists; D006773:Hospitals, Municipal; D006785:Hospitals, University; D006801:Humans; D008508:Medication Errors; D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians'; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations