Changes in Provider Perceptions and Practices Regarding Dosing Units for Oral Liquid Medications

OBJECTIVE: A 2015 survey of primary care providers (PCPs) found that while many believed that milliliter (mL)-only dosing was safest for oral liquid medications, few would use mL alone in dosing instructions. Since 2015, many recommendations have promoted “mL-only” dosing. In 2019, a follow-up survey was conducted to assess if PCP perceptions and practices have changed. METHODS: Pediatricians, family medicine physicians, nurse practitioners, and internists participating in the 2015 and 2019 DocStyles cross-sectional, web-based surveys were asked about their perceptions and practices regarding dosing units for oral liquid medications. RESULTS: In 2019, among 1392 respondents, the proportion of PCPs who reported they believed using mL-only is the safest dosing instruction ranged from 55.1% of internists to 80.8% of pediatricians. While fewer PCPs believed patients/caregivers prefer dosing instructions in mL-only (23.9% of nurse practitioners to 48.4% of pediatricians), more held this belief in 2019 compared to 2015; pediatricians had the greatest absolute increase (+14.4%) and family medicine physicians had the smallest increase (+1.3%). While 61.6% of pediatricians reported they would use mL-only dosing, only 36.0% of internists, 36.6% of nurse practitioners, and 42.5% of family medicine physicians reported they would do so. After controlling for age, gender, region, and specialty, 2019 PCP survey participants were more likely to report that they would use mL-only dosing compared to 2015 participants (adjusted odds ratio 1.51, 95% confidence interval 1.29–1.77). CONCLUSIONS: Broader educational efforts may be necessary to reach nonpediatricians, to encourage prescribing and communication with patients/caregivers using mL-only dosing.

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Work Title Changes in Provider Perceptions and Practices Regarding Dosing Units for Oral Liquid Medications
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Open Access
Creators
  1. Jennifer N. Lind
  2. Maribeth C. Lovegrove
  3. Ian M. Paul
  4. Hsiang Shonna Yin
  5. Daniel S. Budnitz
Keyword
  1. dosing units
  2. milliliters
  3. oral liquid medications
  4. primary care providers
License In Copyright (Rights Reserved)
Work Type Article
Publisher
  1. Academic Pediatrics
Publication Date August 28, 2023
Publisher Identifier (DOI)
  1. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.acap.2023.08.020
Deposited August 12, 2024

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Version 1
published

  • Created
  • Added 2024_Provider_Dosing_of_Oral_Liquid_Meds_Acad_Pediatrics.pdf
  • Added Creator Jennifer N. Lind
  • Added Creator Maribeth C. Lovegrove
  • Added Creator Ian M. Paul
  • Added Creator Hsiang Shonna Yin
  • Added Creator Daniel S. Budnitz
  • Published
  • Updated
  • Updated Keyword, Publication Date Show Changes
    Keyword
    • dosing units, milliliters, oral liquid medications, primary care providers
    Publication Date
    • 2024-05-01
    • 2023-08-28