A randomised trial to evaluate prescribing accuracy when using the Paediatric Analgesia Wheel.
OBJECTIVE
To compare the accuracy of prescribing analgesic and anti-emetic drugs to children when using either the 2006 BNF for children (BNFC) or a new device, the Paediatric Analgesia Wheel.


METHODS
A simulated prescription chart was created requiring doctors to prescribe seven drugs to each of two children (14 prescriptions in total). 52 doctors from anaesthesia, paediatrics and emergency medicine were recruited and randomly assigned to complete the chart using either the BNFC or a new device, the Paediatric Analgesia Wheel. The mean number of correct answers and mean time taken to complete the chart were compared.


RESULTS
Prescribing using the Paediatric Analgesia Wheel resulted in a significantly greater number of correct answers (mean 10.9) compared with using the BNFC (mean 3.5). In addition, the mean time taken to complete the prescription chart was significantly shorter when using the Paediatric Analgesia Wheel (5.8 min) compared with the BNFC (12.4 min).


CONCLUSIONS
The Paediatric Analgesia Wheel provides a time-efficient method of prescribing commonly used analgesic and anti-emetic drugs to children and results in improved accuracy when compared with using the BNFC.
Hixson
R
R
Department of Anaesthesia, Darlington Memorial Hospital, Hollyhurst Road, Darlington, UK. Richard.Hixson@cddft.nhs.uk
Gandhi
M
M
Holton
F
F
D000700:Analgesics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000776:Anesthesiology; D000932:Antiemetics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D002983:Clinical Competence / Q000592:standards; D004346:Drug Information Services; D011307:Drug Prescriptions; D004635:Emergency Medicine; D004739:England; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008508:Medication Errors / Q000517:prevention & control; D010372:Pediatrics; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D011364:Professional Practice / Q000592:standards
D000700:Analgesics; D000932:Antiemetics