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09-05-2024 | Insulins | Original Article

Analysis of factors affecting the accuracy of low-dose insulin dosage using syringes and vials: a cross-sectional study in a Japanese regional hospital

Authors: Manabu Kondo, Rika Saji, Yuka Yamada, Mari Hayashi, Tomoko Shirai

Published in: Diabetology International | Issue 3/2024

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Abstract

While several studies have shown that insulin pens are more convenient and accurate than conventional administration with syringes and vials (syringes/vials), there is a frequent need for low-dose insulin injections administered by nurses using syringes/vials in hospital settings, particularly for critically ill patients. However, there is a lack of research investigating factors related to the accuracy of low-dose insulin administration using syringes/vials, particularly in hospital settings. We therefore performed a cross-sectional study to assess the accuracy of low-dose insulin administration by registered nurses using syringes/vials and to determine whether time of day, years of experience and adherence to proper injection procedures (vertical insertion/drawing and air bubble checking) affected the accuracy. The participants were 33 registered nurses working in the diabetes ward, and a total of 198 trials were analyzed. Using syringes/vials, the median errors converted to insulin units were found to be 0.6 units for the 2- and 6-unit target doses, and 0.7 units for the 10-unit target dose. In cases with the largest error, errors for the 2-, 6-, and 10-unit target doses were observed to be 2.3, 4.0, and 3.3 units, respectively. In our study, time of day, years of experience and vertical insertion/drawing did not correlate with errors, but errors were significant in the participants who did not check for air bubbles. Nurses can make non-negligible dosage errors when administering low-dose insulin using syringes/vials, and this is particularly likely when air bubble checks are missed.
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Metadata
Title
Analysis of factors affecting the accuracy of low-dose insulin dosage using syringes and vials: a cross-sectional study in a Japanese regional hospital
Authors
Manabu Kondo
Rika Saji
Yuka Yamada
Mari Hayashi
Tomoko Shirai
Publication date
09-05-2024
Publisher
Springer Nature Singapore
Keywords
Insulins
Insulins
Published in
Diabetology International / Issue 3/2024
Print ISSN: 2190-1678
Electronic ISSN: 2190-1686
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s13340-024-00726-5

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