Healthcare students and professionals to benefit from new drug calculations App

Healthcare students and professionals are to be given a helping hand with drug calculations thanks to a new App developed at Plymouth University.

'Mastering Drug Calculations' was designed by Dr Miriam McMullan, a Lecturer of Health Professions at the University, in a bid to prevent medication administration errors, which can have serious consequences, particularly for children.

The free App, which is available to download onto iPhones and Android smartphones, features a number of exercises, examples and quizzes designed to develop the user’s ability to perform drug calculations of varying difficulties.

Dr McMullan said: “Patient safety is at risk if inaccurate drug doses are administered due to poor calculation skills. Simply putting a decimal point in the wrong place could mean the difference between life and death, particularly for children.

“The App will be helpful for students, but also for registered healthcare professionals who may want to refresh their drug calculation skills, and for academic and clinical staff working with students. Ultimately, however, the main beneficiaries of the App will be the patients.”

The interactive App, which is described by Dr McMullan as an ‘educational package,’ tests users on their ability to calculate the administration of solid and liquid medications, drug percentages and drip and infusion rates. It also features a number of measurement converting exercises, all designed to improve healthcare students’ and professionals’ confidence and competence.

Since the App’s launch in September it has already been downloaded thousands of times via the Apple and Android App stores. Dr McMullan added: “The interest this tool has already generated shows how essential it is to both students and the wider healthcare community.”

Dr McMullan received funding from the Higher Education Authority (HEA) to develop the tool, and also worked closely with App developer Colin Atkinson. He said: “The beauty of an App is that it can be used anywhere – on the train, at home, or at work during a lunch hour. It’s also interactive, so provides immediate and accurate feedback that is essential to maintaining crucial calculation skills.”