Use of Dimensional Analysis to Reduce Medication Errors

ABSTRACT The purpose of this pilot study was to determine whether using dimensional analysis as the method of mathematical computation could reduce nursing medication calculation errors. The sample for this study consisted of second-year baccalaureate nursing students in a required clinical skills course. Students in the control group were taught medication calculations using the traditional math method during one semester, whereas students in the experimental group were taught the same material using dimensional analysis during the next semester. Analysis of the collected data from a medication dosage calculation examination revealed the dimensional analysis group scored with greater accuracy than the traditional math group. AUTHORS Received: December 9, 2004 Accepted: April 1, 2005 Dr. Greenfield and Ms. Cohn are Assistant Professors, and Ms. Whelan is Adjunct Faculty, Adelphi University, School of Nursing, Garden City, New York. Address correspondence to Sue Greenfield, PhD, RN, Assistant Professor, Adelphi University, School of Nursing, Alumnae Hall, Room 208, 1 South Avenue, PO Box 701, Garden City, NY 11530-0701; e-mail: greenfi2@adelphi.edu.