title: Multidisciplinary education improves prescription of balanced crystalloids: a pilot study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the use of balanced and unbalanced crystalloids in adult surgical patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective study of 65 adult emergency general surgical admissions in a UK acute district general hospital, with a further 45 patients studied following educational interventions.
  
  
  RESULTS
  36.4% of patients studied were prescribed inappropriate saline for resuscitation/replacement before the intervention. This compared with no inappropriate prescriptions (0%) after educational intervention (p = 0.0137).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Simple multidisciplinary educational interventions can improve intravenous fluid prescription.
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgery, Royal Berkshire Hospital, London Road, Reading, Berkshire RG1 5AN.
authors.forename: Kerry
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Bosworth
authors.forename: John M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Findlay
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Spencer
mesh_terms: D000077324:Crystalloid Solutions; D004502:Education, Medical, Continuing / Q000379:methods*; D005440:Fluid Therapy; D006801:Humans; D007552:Isotonic Solutions / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013514:Surgical Procedures, Operative; D006113:United Kingdom
chemical_list: D000077324:Crystalloid Solutions; D007552:Isotonic Solutions