Accuracy of acetaminophen dosing in children by caregivers in Saudi Arabia

Abstract

Background and Objectives: Fever contributes to a significant number of visits by children to the emergency department (ED), where it is often treated with acetaminophen. The objective of this study was to determine if caregivers give children with fever an accurate dose of acetaminophen and determine factors associated with dosing inaccuracy. Design and Setting: Cross-sectional study at the ED of a tertiary referral center over a 6-month period (March-August 2008) Methods: We interviewed 200 caregivers who gave acetaminophen to children with fever in the preceding 24 hours. Results: Of 200 caregivers, 178 (89%) were included in the study. Seventy-six caregivers (43%) gave an accurate dose of acetaminophen, 54 (30%) gave a subtherapeutic dose, and 48 (27%) gave supratherapeutic doses. Caregivers who gave accurate doses were more likely to give an acetaminophen dose in less than a 4-hour frequency (risk ratio [RR] 0.63. P