Which Dosing Tools Do Parents Use?

Tools used to administer medications have varying accuracy and can lead to dosing errors. Researchers surveyed parents of children aged ≤8 years in three geographically dispersed urban academic clinics about use and knowledge of dosing tools (kitchen teaspoon and tablespoon, dropper, measuring spoon, oral syringe, dosing cup) and health literacy.

Of 473 parents surveyed, 44% were Hispanic and 35% were non-Hispanic black. At-home access to a tool with standard measurements was almost universal (99%), with 89% having access to oral syringes and 85% to dosing cups. Twenty-two percent of parents reported using dosing cups most of the time and 62% used oral syringes. Overall, 24% of parents believed dosing cups were the most accurate tool; this b…