Improvement of drug dose calculations by classroom teaching or e-learning: a randomised controlled trial in nurses

Abstract

IntroductionInsufficient skills in drug dose calculations increase the risk for medication errors. Even experienced nurses may struggle with such calculations. Learning flexibility and cost considerations make e-learning interesting as an alternative to classroom teaching. This study compared the learning outcome and risk of error after a course in drug dose calculations for nurses with the two methods.MethodsIn a randomised controlled open study, nurses from hospitals and primary healthcare were randomised to either e-learning or classroom teaching. Before and after a 2-day course, the nurses underwent a multiple choice test in drug dose calculations: 14 tasks with four alternative answers (score 0–14), and a statement regarding the certainty of each answer (score 0–3). High risk of error was being certain that incorrect answer was correct. The results are given as the mean (SD).Results16 men and 167 women participated in the study, aged 42.0 (9.5) years with a working experience of 12.3 (9.5) years. The number of correct answers after e-learning was 11.6 (2.0) and after classroom teaching 11.9 (2.0) (p=0.18, NS); improvement were 0.5 (1.6) and 0.9 (2.2), respectively (p=0.07, NS). Classroom learning was significantly superior to e-learning among participants with a pretest score below 9. In support of e-learning was evaluation of specific value for the working situation. There was no difference in risk of error between groups after the course (p=0.77).ConclusionsThe study showed no differences in learning outcome or risk of error between e-learning and classroom teaching in drug dose calculations. The overall learning outcome was small. Weak precourse knowledge was associated with better outcome after classroom teaching.

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The relationship between math personality, math anxiety, test preparation strategy and medication dose calculations in first year nursing students

“…Whether the delivery of these learning activities should be online or in a traditional classroom setting is unclear. All teaching strategies improve dose calculation test results over pre-test levels; [11,16] this includes online learning [45,63,64] or classroom teaching. [63,65] The use of a dose calculation mobile app both improved test scores and reduced anxiety.…”

“…All teaching strategies improve dose calculation test results over pre-test levels; [11,16] this includes online learning [45,63,64] or classroom teaching. [63,65] The use of a dose calculation mobile app both improved test scores and reduced anxiety. [66] Reducing math anxiety using the strategies outlined above will enhance the ability of Inchworm students to compute and convert numbers to perform medication dose calculations accurately.…”

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