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Open Access
Research
Rounding of birth weights in a neonatal intensive care unit over 20 years: an analysis of a large cohort study Anthony J Emmerson,1 Stephen A Roberts2
To cite: Emmerson AJ, Roberts SA. Rounding of birth weights in a neonatal intensive care unit over 20 years: an analysis of a large cohort study. BMJ Open 2013;3:e003650. doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2013003650 ▸ Prepublication history for this paper is available online. To view these files please visit the journal online (http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/ bmjopen-2013-003650). Received 24 July 2013 Revised 11 November 2013 Accepted 13 November 2013
1
Newborn Intensive Care Unit, St Mary’s Hospital, Central Manchester University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre (MAHSC), Manchester, UK 2 Centre for Biostatistics, Institute of Population Health, University of Manchester, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre (MAHSC), Manchester, UK Correspondence to Dr Anthony J Emmerson; Anthony.emmerson@cmft. nhs.uk
ABSTRACT Objective: To determine the frequency of birth weight digit preference for infants admitted to a large neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), the scale of rounding and its dependence on birth weight, and time and the impact on prescribing accuracy. Design: A consecutive cohort of birth weights extracted retrospectively from a single clinical database. Setting and participants: Birth weights from 9170 inborn infants recorded on an electronic prescribing database admitted to NICU over 20 years. Statistical approach: Data are presented for the frequency of each of the possible pairs of final digits. A statistical model of digit preference assuming rounding is used to quantify the proportions rounding to specific accuracy levels. These proportions are compared between those
Open Access
Research
Rounding of birth weights in a neonatal intensive care unit over 20 years: an analysis of a large cohort study Anthony J Emmerson,1 Stephen A Roberts2
To cite: Emmerson AJ, Roberts SA. Rounding of birth weights in a neonatal intensive care unit over 20 years: an analysis of a large cohort study. BMJ Open 2013;3:e003650. doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2013003650 ▸ Prepublication history for this paper is available online. To view these files please visit the journal online (http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/ bmjopen-2013-003650). Received 24 July 2013 Revised 11 November 2013 Accepted 13 November 2013
1
Newborn Intensive Care Unit, St Mary’s Hospital, Central Manchester University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre (MAHSC), Manchester, UK 2 Centre for Biostatistics, Institute of Population Health, University of Manchester, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre (MAHSC), Manchester, UK Correspondence to Dr Anthony J Emmerson; Anthony.emmerson@cmft. nhs.uk
ABSTRACT Objective: To determine the frequency of birth weight digit preference for infants admitted to a large neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), the scale of rounding and its dependence on birth weight, and time and the impact on prescribing accuracy. Design: A consecutive cohort of birth weights extracted retrospectively from a single clinical database. Setting and participants: Birth weights from 9170 inborn infants recorded on an electronic prescribing database admitted to NICU over 20 years. Statistical approach: Data are presented for the frequency of each of the possible pairs of final digits. A statistical model of digit preference assuming rounding is used to quantify the proportions rounding to specific accuracy levels. These proportions are compared between those
