title: The Triangle Technique: a new evidence-based educational tool for pediatric medication calculations.
abstract: Many nursing student verbalize an aversion to mathematical concepts and experience math anxiety whenever a mathematical problem is confronted. Since nurses confront mathematical problems on a daily basis, they must learn to feel comfortable with their ability to perform these calculations correctly. The Triangle Technique, a new educational tool available to nurse educators, incorporates evidence-based concepts within a graphic model using visual, auditory, and kinesthetic learning styles to demonstrate pediatric medication calculations of normal therapeutic ranges. The theoretical framework for the technique is presented, as is a pilot study examining the efficacy of the educational tool. Statistically significant results obtained by Pearson's product-moment correlation indicate that students are better able to calculate accurate pediatric therapeutic dosage ranges after participation in the educational intervention of learning the Triangle Technique.
authors.affiliation: St. Louis Children's Hospital, USA. sredld@umsl.edu
authors.forename: Darlene
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Sredl
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D001296:Audiovisual Aids / Q000592:standards*; D001835:Body Weight; D002983:Clinical Competence / Q000592:standards; D004358:Drug Therapy / Q000451:nursing; D004507:Education, Nursing, Associate / Q000379:methods*; D004510:Education, Nursing, Diploma Programs / Q000379:methods*; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008433:Mathematics; D008875:Middle Aged; D015146:Midwestern United States; D017145:Models, Educational; D016294:Models, Nursing; D015402:Nursing Education Research; D010371:Pediatric Nursing / Q000193:education*; D010600:Pharmacology / Q000193:education*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011588:Psychology, Educational; D020377:Self Efficacy; D013338:Students, Nursing / Q000523:psychology