Parent Preferences and Perceptions of Milliliters and Teaspoons: Role of Health Literacy and Experience

• Type of Material: Article
• Authors: Alejandro Torres, New York University; Ruth Parker, Emory University; Lee M. Sanders, Stanford University; Michael S. Wolf, Northwestern University; Stacy Bailey, University of North Carolina; Deesha A. Patel, Northwestern University; Jessica J. Jimenez, New York University; Kwang-Youn A. Kim, Northwestern University; Benard P. Dreyer, New York University; Alan Mendelsohn, New York University; H. Shonna Yin, New York University
• Language: English
• Date: 2018-01-01
• Publisher: Elsevier: 12 months
• Publication Version: Author Accepted Manuscript (After Peer Review)
• Copyright Statement: © 2017 Academic Pediatric Association
• License: Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 4.0 International
• Final Published Version (URL): http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.acap.2017.04.001
• Title of Journal or Parent Work: Academic Pediatrics
• ISSN: 1876-2859
• Volume: 18
• Issue: 1
• Start Page: 26
• End Page: 34
• Grant/Funding Information: Dr. Sanders is also supported by FDA CERSI grant (UCSF-Stanford CERSI Award #13).; Supported by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) / National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (R01HD070864).; Dr. Yin is also supported by HRSA Grant 12-191-1077- Academic Administrative Units in Primary Care.
• Keywords: health communication; ambulatory care; CARE; health literacy; LABELS; LIQUID MEDICATION; dosing errors; ADHERENCE; Pediatrics; Life Sciences & Biomedicine; CHILDREN; DIRECTIONS; dosing units; UNITS; INSTRUCTIONS; medication errors; MEDICATION DOSING ERRORS; Science & Technology
• Research Categories: Chemistry, Pharmaceutical; Health Sciences, Medicine and Surgery

Abstract

Background and Objectives A recent American Academy of Pediatrics policy statement recommends milliliter-exclusive dosing for pediatric liquid medications. Little is known about parent preferences regarding units, perceptions about moving to milliliters only, and the role of health literacy and prior milliliter-dosing experience. Methods Cross-sectional analysis of data collected as part of a randomized controlled study in 3 urban pediatric clinics (SAFE Rx for Kids study). English- and Spanish-speaking parents (n = 493) of children aged ≤8 years were randomized to 1 of 4 study arms and given labels and dosing tools which varied in label instruction format (text plus pictogram, text only) and units (milliliter only [“mL”], milliliter/teaspoon [“mL”/“tsp”]). Outcomes included teaspoon preference in dosing instructions and perceived difficulty with milliliter-only dosing. The predictor variable was health literacy (Newest Vital Sign; low [0–1], marginal [2–3], adequate [4–6]). The mediating variable was prior milliliter-dosing experience. Results Over two-thirds of parents had low or marginal health literacy. The majority (>70%) preferred to use milliliters, perceived milliliter-only dosing to be easy, and had prior milliliter-dosing experience; 11.5% had a teaspoon preference, 18.1% perceived milliliter-only dosing will be difficult, and 17.7% had no prior milliliter-dosing experience. Parents with lower health literacy had a higher odds of having a teaspoon preference (low vs adequate: adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 2.9 [95% confidence interval [CI] 1.3–6.2]), and greater odds of perceiving difficulty with milliliter-only dosing (low vs adequate: AOR = 13.9 [95% CI 4.8–40.6], marginal vs adequate: AOR = 7.1 [95% CI 2.5–20.4]). Lack of experience with milliliter dosing partially mediated the impact of health literacy. Conclusions Most parents were comfortable with milliliter-only dosing. Parents with low health literacy were more likely to perceive milliliter-only dosing to be difficult; educational efforts will need to target this group to ensure safe medication use.