Evidence map›Paper›PMID 38630157›Full record

Trial reportJournal of medical systems2024

Comparing the Effectiveness of a Clinical Decision Support Tool in Reducing Pediatric Opioid Dose Calculation Errors: PediPain App vs. Traditional Calculators - A Simulation-Based Randomised Controlled Study.

Clyde T Matava, Martina Bordini, Amanda Jasudavisius, Carmina Santos, Monica Caldeira-Kulbakas

Abstract readRandomized Controlled Trial
PubMed Publisher
In one paragraph

Trial report in Journal of medical systems, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
2.2field-weighted citation impact, top 13% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed, 2 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Technology-Driven Decision Support for Opioid Tapering: A Scoping Review.Basic & clinical pharmacology & toxicology · 2026
    Article
  2. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors at 1 institution in 2 countries.

Clyde T MatavaDepartment of Anesthesia and Pain Medicine, The Hospital for Sick Children, 555 University Avenue, Toronto, ON, M5G 1X8, Canada. clyde.matava@sickkids.ca.
Martina BordiniDepartment of Anesthesia and Pain Medicine, The Hospital for Sick Children, 555 University Avenue, Toronto, ON, M5G 1X8, Canada.
Amanda JasudavisiusDepartment of Anesthesia and Pain Medicine, The Hospital for Sick Children, 555 University Avenue, Toronto, ON, M5G 1X8, Canada.
Carmina SantosDepartment of Anesthesia and Pain Medicine, The Hospital for Sick Children, 555 University Avenue, Toronto, ON, M5G 1X8, Canada.
Monica Caldeira-KulbakasDepartment of Anesthesia and Pain Medicine, The Hospital for Sick Children, 555 University Avenue, Toronto, ON, M5G 1X8, Canada.
Hospital for Sick Children · CA

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Wrong dose calculation medication errors are widespread in pediatric patients mainly due to weight-based dosing. PediPain app is a clinical decision support tool that provides weight- and age- based dosages for various analgesics. We hypothesized that the use of a clinical decision support tool, the PediPain app versus pocket calculators for calculating pain medication dosages in children reduces the incidence of wrong dosage calculations and shortens the time taken for calculations. The study was a randomised controlled trial comparing the PediPain app vs. pocket calculator for performing eight weight-based calculations for opioids and other analgesics. Participants were healthcare providers routinely administering opioids and other analgesics in their practice. The primary outcome was the incidence of wrong dose calculations. Secondary outcomes were the incidence of wrong dose calculations in simple versus complex calculations; time taken to complete calculations; the occurrence of tenfold; hundredfold errors; and wrong-key presses. A total of 140 residents, fellows and nurses were recruited between June 2018 and November 2019; 70 participants were randomized to control group (pocket calculator) and 70 to the intervention group (PediPain App). After randomization two participants assigned to PediPain group completed the simulation in the control group by mistake. Analysis was by intention-to-treat (PediPain app = 68 participants, pocket calculator = 72 participants). The overall incidence of wrong dose calculation was 178/576 (30.9%) for the control and 23/544 (4.23%) for PediPain App, P < 0·001. The risk difference was - 32.8% [-38.7%, -26.9%] for complex and - 20.5% [-26.3%, -14.8%] for simple calculations. Calculations took longer within control group (median of 69 Sects. [50, 96]) compared to PediPain app group, (median 48 Sects. [38, 63]), P < 0.001. There were no differences in other secondary outcomes. A weight-based clinical decision support tool, the PediPain app reduced the incidence of wrong doses calculation. Clinical decision support tools calculating medications may be valuable instruments for reducing medication errors, especially in the pediatric population.

Indexed as

Decision Support Systems, ClinicalMobile ApplicationsAnalgesics, OpioidChildComputer SimulationHumansResearch DesignAnalgesics, OpioidClinical decision support toolMedication errorsmHealthSafety

Identifiers

PMID38630157
OpenAlexW4394873376

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.