Does a Color-Coded Method for Measuring Acetaminophen Doses Reduce the Likelihood of Dosing Error?

was conducted to assess whether a new color-coding method for measuring acetaminophen doses reduces medicationdosing errors. The study enrolled parents of children aged 3 months to 12 years who were seen for nonemergent care visits in the pediatric emergency department of a tertiary care center. One hundred one parents were assigned to either a color-coded dosing group or a conventional dosing group. Parents assigned to the color-coded group (n=51) used a color-coded scheme to determine the correct dose of acetaminophen, based on standard recommendations. They were given a color chart with written instructions to determine the appropriate dosing color for their child based on the child’s weight, as well as a syringe marked with matching color lines. Parents of children in the conventional dosing group (n=50) were able to choose from several options of standard home-dosing methods (spoons, droppers, etc). Both groups of parents were asked first to state what amount of medication they would give their child and then to demonstrate the amount they would administer. No medication was actually given to the children. The deviation between the stated and demonstrated doses and a recommended dosing range (based on weight of the child) were determined. The investigators found that the parents who used the new color-coded method had significantly less deviation from the recommended dosing range as compared with those who used the conventional method. The authors concluded that a color-coded method of measuring over-the-counter medications could markedly improve caregivers’ ability to correctly determine and measure medication doses. We have evaluated this study according to the guidelines put forth in the Users’ Guide to the Medical Literature. We review the validity of results, the size and precision of the treatment effect, and the generalizability and applicability of outcomes.