A recent Journal of Patient Safety study examined errors that residents make in pediatric clinics.
The researchers examined the frequency and types of errors the residents made and calculated error rates. Researchers found "numerous" errors occurring in pediatric clinics.
Researchers also found "prescribing errors take place among all medical trainees," according to the study abstract.
Here are six key points:
1. Researchers noted children are especially at risk for medication errors due to weight-based dosing, limited FDA indications and human calculation errors.
2. Of 2,941 prescriptions reviewed, the overall resident prescribing error rate was 5.88 percent.
3. The pediatric resident error rate was 4 percent.
4. Family medicine, internal medicine and medicine/pediatrics had error rates of 11 percent, 8 percent and 7 percent.
5. There was a statistically significant different in pediatric error rates compared with the other categories.
6. The most common error type was overdose.
