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. 1999 Oct;45:2373–2376.

How accurately do we estimate patients' weight in emergency departments?

C M Fernandes 1, S Clark 1, A Price 1, G Innes 1
PMCID: PMC2328636  PMID: 10540697

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To assess the accuracy of estimates of patients' weight made by physicians, nurses, and patients themselves in emergency departments. DESIGN: Observational prospective study. SETTING: Tertiary referral centre in Vancouver, BC. PARTICIPANTS: Eleven attending physicians, 26 nurses, and a convenience sample of 117 patients. INTERVENTIONS: Patients themselves, attending physicians, and nurses independently estimated the weight of 117 patients. An investigator weighed each patient. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Mean error was determined by subtracting actual weight from estimated weight and dividing by actual weight; 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated. RESULTS: Mean error in estimates was 3.1% (95% CI 2.7 to 3.5) for patients, 8.4% for nurses (CI 7.6 to 9.2), and 8.1% (CI 7.1 to 9.1) for physicians. Weight was estimated within 5% of actual weight by 32% of nurses, 39% of physicians, and 82% of patients. Weight was estimated within 10% of actual weight by 66% of nurses, 66% of physicians, and 97% of patients. Estimates out by more than 15% were made by 11% of nurses, 16% of physicians, and 1% of patients. CONCLUSIONS: Patient estimates were most accurate. Physician and nurse estimates were unreliable.

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Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

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