Knowledge on Correct Therapeutic Dose and Toxic Dose of Paracetamol among Doctors and Nurses in Paediatric Units in Teaching Hospital, Karapitiya

Abstract

Background: Paracetamol is a widely used antipyretic and analgesic drug. It is safe for all age groups if proper dose is administered. It is the most common agent involved in drug overdose and causes liver and renal damages. When prescribing and administering paracetamol to children, precautions need to be taken since supra-therapeutic doses are not uncommon. Single therapeutic dose and maximum therapeutic dose of paracetamol for 24 hours are defined as 10-15 mg/kg and 75 mg/kg respectively. Single toxic dose is 200 mg/kg. Objective: To assess the knowledge on correct therapeutic dose and single toxic dose of paracetamol among doctors and nurses working in paediatric wards and emergency treatment unit (ETU) at Teaching Hospital, Karapitiya (THK) Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional research methodology was carried out recruiting doctors and nurses who work in the paediatric wards and ETU in THK. The data collection was carried out among 100 healthcare workers (50 doctors and 50 nurses) distributing a self administered pre-tested questionnaire. Results: The mean (±SD) age of the participants was 36.5 (±7.9) years. The 98% of the participants (48 doctors and 50 nurses) has the knowledge about the correct single dose. The 93% (44 doctors and 49 nurses) lacks the knowledge of the maximum therapeutic dose that could be given per day for a child and four participants (3 doctors and one nurse) did not provide answer to the question about this. Only 56% (31 doctors and 25 nurses) has the knowledge of the correct acute toxic single dose. There is a significant association between the work experience in paediatric unit/ ETU and the knowledge of acute single toxic dose (X2 = 14.8, p = 0.04). Conclusions: The knowledge on maximum therapeutic dose of paracetamol and its acute single toxic dose that can be given to a child within 24 hours was not satisfactory among doctors and nurses despite working in paediatric wards and ETU.