Medicine dosing by weight in the home: can parents accurately weigh preschool children? A method comparison study. Issue 12 (10th August 2011)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Costelloe, Céire; Montgomery, Alan A; Redmond, Niamh M; Fletcher, Margaret; Hollinghurst, Sandra; Peters, Tim J; Hay, Alastair D
• Is Part Of: Archives of disease in childhood. Volume 96:Issue 12(2011)
• Page Start: 1187
• Page End: 1190
• Publication Date: 2011-08-10
• Subjects: Children -- Diseases -- Periodicals; Infants -- Diseases -- Periodicals; 618.920005
• DOI: 10.1136/archdischild-2011-300600
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0003-9888

Abstract

Abstract : Objective: To determine the accuracy with which parents can estimate preschool children's weight using home scales in order to calculate antipyretic dose. Design: Cross-sectional, method comparison study. Setting and participants: 156 preschool children aged 6 months to 6 years recruited from primary care and the community to an antipyretic strategies trial and managed at home. Comparison and outcome measures: Research nurse weight estimate using Seca 835-2 digital paediatric scales compared with parental weight estimate using usual home scales. Results: Parents of 62 (40%) preschool children had home scales. Research scale estimated weights were heavier than home scale weight estimates, with a mean difference of 0.41 kg (95% CI −0.24 to 0.74 kg), with 95% limits of agreement of −2.44 to 1.47 kg. Conclusion: Weight can be estimated accurately enough to calculate antipyretic medicine doses by the minority of parents having scales that can be used to estimate their child's weight.