Use of medical abbreviations and acronyms: knowledge among medical students and postgraduates.
BACKGROUND
Inappropriate use of abbreviations and acronyms in healthcare has become an international patient safety issue. The aim of this study was to assess the knowledge of medical abbreviations and acronyms among residents of the department of medicine at a tertiary-care hospital.


METHODS
Internal medicine residents (IMRs), subspecialty residents (SRs) and students were asked to complete a self-administered questionnaire which comprised standard abbreviations used in medicine and its various subspecialties. Scores obtained by the residents were classified into three categories: >70% correct answers; 50-69% correct answers; <50% correct answers.


RESULTS
A total of 77 IMRs, SRs and medical students participated. Overall, good responses were achieved by 53 (68.8%), 16 (20.8%) attained satisfactory responses, and eight (10.4%) had unsatisfactory scores. The majority of SRs achieved good responses (19/22 (86%)), followed by IMRs (30/40 (75%)) and students (4/15 (26.7%)). Evaluation of their knowledge taken from the list of 'do not use' abbreviations showed that 89.6% reported using 'Q.D.' instead of 'once a day', and 93% used 'IU' instead of the entire phrase 'international unit'. The top five 'not to use' abbreviations were ZnSO4, µg, MgSO4, IU and SC, with the frequency 100%, 96%, 94.8%, 93% and 90%, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
This study showed that there is a knowledge gap among trainees in medicine regarding the meaning and usage of common medical abbreviations. We therefore recommend proper education of trainees in medicine to ensure they understand the meaning of abbreviations and are aware of the list of 'do not use' abbreviations.
Department of Medicine, Aga Khan University, Karachi, Pakistan.
Safia
S
Awan
Section of Gastroenterology, Aga Khan University, Karachi, Pakistan.
Shahab
S
Abid
Section of Internal Medicine, Aga Khan University, Karachi, Pakistan.
Muhammad
M
Tariq
Section of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Aga Khan University, Karachi, Pakistan.
Ali Bin Sarwar
AB
Zubairi
Section of Neurology, Aga Khan University, Karachi, Pakistan.
Ayeesha
A
Kamal
Section of Cardiology, Aga Khan University, Karachi, Pakistan.
Sadia
S
Arshad
Section of Diabetes and Endocrinology, Aga Khan University, Karachi, Pakistan.
Qamar
Q
Masood
Section of Nephrology, Department of Medicine, Aga Khan University, Karachi, Pakistan.
Waqar
W
Kashif
Section of Gastroenterology, Aga Khan University, Karachi, Pakistan.
Saeed
S
Hamid
D000004:Abbreviations as Topic; D002309:Cardiology / Q000193:education; D002983:Clinical Competence; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004704:Endocrinology / Q000193:education; D005762:Gastroenterology / Q000193:education; D006801:Humans; D007388:Internal Medicine / Q000193:education*; D007396:Internship and Residency; D008505:Medical Staff, Hospital; D009398:Nephrology / Q000193:education; D009462:Neurology / Q000193:education; D010154:Pakistan; D061214:Patient Safety; D015272:Pulmonary Medicine / Q000193:education; D013337:Students, Medical; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
Safe Medication Practices; medical abbreviation; medical education; medical errors