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BMC Nephrology
Published in: BMC Nephrology 1/2017

Open Access 01-12-2017 | Research article

Awareness and knowledge among internal medicine house-staff for dose adjustment of commonly used medications in patients with CKD

Authors: Sikander Surana, Neeru Kumar, Amita Vasudeva, Gulvahid Shaikh, Kenar D. Jhaveri, Hitesh Shah, Deepa Malieckal, Joshua Fogel, Gurwinder Sidhu, Sofia Rubinstein

Published in: BMC Nephrology | Issue 1/2017

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Abstract

Background

Drug dosing errors result in adverse patient outcomes and are more common in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). As internists treat the majority of patients with CKD, we study if Internal Medicine house-staff have awareness and knowledge about the correct dosage of commonly used medications for those with CKD.

Methods

A cross-sectional survey was performed and included 341 participants. The outcomes were the awareness of whether a medication needs dose adjustment in patients with CKD and whether there was knowledge for the level of glomerular filtration rate (GFR) a medication needs to be adjusted.

Results

The overall pattern for all post-graduate year (PGY) groups in all medication classes was a lack of awareness and knowledge. For awareness, there were statistically significant increased mean differences for PGY2 and PGY3 as compared to PGY1 for allergy, endocrine, gastrointestinal, and rheumatologic medication classes but not for analgesic, cardiovascular, and neuropsychotropic medication classes. For knowledge, there were statistically significant increased mean differences for PGY2 and PGY3 as compared to PGY1 for allergy, cardiovascular, endocrine, and gastrointestinal, medication classes but not for analgesic, neuropsychotropic, and rheumatologic medication classes.

Conclusions

Internal Medicine house-staff across all levels of training demonstrated poor awareness and knowledge for many medication classes in CKD patients. Internal Medicine house-staff should receive more nephrology exposure and formal didactic educational training during residency to better manage complex treatment regimens and prevent medication dosing errors.
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Metadata
Title
Awareness and knowledge among internal medicine house-staff for dose adjustment of commonly used medications in patients with CKD
Authors
Sikander Surana
Neeru Kumar
Amita Vasudeva
Gulvahid Shaikh
Kenar D. Jhaveri
Hitesh Shah
Deepa Malieckal
Joshua Fogel
Gurwinder Sidhu
Sofia Rubinstein
Publication date
01-12-2017
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
BMC Nephrology / Issue 1/2017
Electronic ISSN: 1471-2369
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12882-017-0443-7

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