C M Fernandes1, S Clark, A Price, G Innes. 1. Department of Emergency Medicine, St Paul's Hospital, Vancouver, BC. cfernand@unixg.ubc.ca
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To assess the accuracy of estimates of patients' weight made by physicians, nurses, and patients themselves in emergency departments. DESIGN: Observational prospective study. SETTING: Tertiary referral centre in Vancouver, BC. PARTICIPANTS: Eleven attending physicians, 26 nurses, and a convenience sample of 117 patients. INTERVENTIONS: Patients themselves, attending physicians, and nurses independently estimated the weight of 117 patients. An investigator weighed each patient. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Mean error was determined by subtracting actual weight from estimated weight and dividing by actual weight; 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated. RESULTS: Mean error in estimates was 3.1% (95% CI 2.7 to 3.5) for patients, 8.4% for nurses (CI 7.6 to 9.2), and 8.1% (CI 7.1 to 9.1) for physicians. Weight was estimated within 5% of actual weight by 32% of nurses, 39% of physicians, and 82% of patients. Weight was estimated within 10% of actual weight by 66% of nurses, 66% of physicians, and 97% of patients. Estimates out by more than 15% were made by 11% of nurses, 16% of physicians, and 1% of patients. CONCLUSIONS: Patient estimates were most accurate. Physician and nurse estimates were unreliable.
OBJECTIVE: To assess the accuracy of estimates of patients' weight made by physicians, nurses, and patients themselves in emergency departments. DESIGN: Observational prospective study. SETTING: Tertiary referral centre in Vancouver, BC. PARTICIPANTS: Eleven attending physicians, 26 nurses, and a convenience sample of 117 patients. INTERVENTIONS:Patients themselves, attending physicians, and nurses independently estimated the weight of 117 patients. An investigator weighed each patient. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Mean error was determined by subtracting actual weight from estimated weight and dividing by actual weight; 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated. RESULTS: Mean error in estimates was 3.1% (95% CI 2.7 to 3.5) for patients, 8.4% for nurses (CI 7.6 to 9.2), and 8.1% (CI 7.1 to 9.1) for physicians. Weight was estimated within 5% of actual weight by 32% of nurses, 39% of physicians, and 82% of patients. Weight was estimated within 10% of actual weight by 66% of nurses, 66% of physicians, and 97% of patients. Estimates out by more than 15% were made by 11% of nurses, 16% of physicians, and 1% of patients. CONCLUSIONS:Patient estimates were most accurate. Physician and nurse estimates were unreliable.
Authors: R D Hull; G E Raskob; J Hirsh; R M Jay; J R Leclerc; W H Geerts; D Rosenbloom; D L Sackett; C Anderson; L Harrison Journal: N Engl J Med Date: 1986-10-30 Impact factor: 91.245
Authors: M W Lorenz; M Graf; C Henke; M Hermans; U Ziemann; M Sitzer; C Foerch Journal: J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry Date: 2007-05-10 Impact factor: 10.154
Authors: Alexander Bigalke; Lasse Hansen; Jasper Diesel; Mattias P Heinrich Journal: Int J Comput Assist Radiol Surg Date: 2021-08-21 Impact factor: 2.924
Authors: Dominic Gascho; Lucia Ganzoni; Philippe Kolly; Niklaus Zoelch; Gary M Hatch; Michael J Thali; Thomas D Ruder Journal: Eur Radiol Exp Date: 2017-12-04