Performing drug dose calculations is an expected fundamental skill in veterinary medicine. Calculation errors are a significant contributor to medication errors in veterinary anesthesia and have the potential to harm patients. Investigating dose calculation errors in a clinical environment with live patients has not been reported in veterinary medicine. Identifying and reporting calculation errors can assist with teaching and mitigating future dose calculation errors. In a prospective, observational study, drug dose calculations included in the proposed anesthesia protocols of 53 third-year veterinary students for a canine and feline spay/neuter laboratory were reviewed. Calculation error incidence, type, and drugs involved were analyzed. A total of 686 drug doses were calculated for 83 patients. Twelve dose calculation errors were identified in nine anesthesia protocols, representing a protocol error rate of 10.8% (9/83) and an overall drug dose calculation error rate of 1.8% (12/686). The majority of errors (83.3%; 10/12) would have led to overdoses, whereas two errors (16.7%; 2/12) would have resulted in underdoses. Drug dose calculation errors are common during anesthetic planning by veterinary students. The occurrence of calculation errors poses a risk to patient safety, highlighting the need for effective teaching and training in this skill, as well as the role of error-reducing strategies such as independent double-checking of calculations.
Keywords: calculation; competency/competencies; doses; medical errors; patient safety; veterinary anesthesia.