@article{8348, author = {David Taylor and Jeffrey Robinson and Dawson MacLeod and Catherine E. MacBean and George Braitberg}, title = {Therapeutic errors among children in the community setting: nature, causes and outcomes.}, abstract = {
AIM: This study aimed to determine the epidemiology of therapeutic errors among children in the community setting.
METHODS: This was a prospective, observational study of 491 consecutive cases reported to the Victorian Poisons Information Centre, between January 2006 and March 2007. A total of 450 (91.7%) parents/carers were followed up by telephone approximately 48 h after the initial call. The main outcome measures were the nature, causes and outcomes of the errors and actions taken or recommendations given to avoid future errors.
RESULTS: The majority of children (334, 68.0%, 95% confidence interval (CI) 63.7, 72.1) were aged CONCLUSION: Very young children are at particular risk, especially from single, over-the-counter medication dosing errors, made at home by family members.