Table 4 Aspects of the exercises analyzed where errors were observed

Uses information given about the stock available (n = 705)

No

10 (1.4)

9 (3.2)

1 (0.2)

< .001

Partially

15 (2.1)

12 (4.2)

3 (0.7)

Incorrectly

31 (4.4)

29 (10.2)

2 (0.5)

Correctly

649 (92.1)

235 (82.5)

414 (98.6)

Consideration of the diluent solution (n = 206)

No

3 (1.5)

3 (3.0)

0

.075*

Partial

4 (1.9)

3 (3.0)

1 (0.9)

Incorrect

10 (4.9)

6 (6.1)

4 (3.7)

Correct

189 (91.7)

87 (87.9)

102 (95.3)

Performs mathematical calculation (n = 794)

No

1 (0.1)

1 (0.3)

0

< .001*

Partially

19 (2.4)

17 (4.9)

2 (0.4)

Incorrectly

62 (7.8)

58 (16.7)

4 (0.9)

Correctly

712 (89.7)

271 (78.1)

441 (98.7)

Contextualization to the case (n = 328)

No

26 (7.9)

19 (10.4)

7 (4.8)

< .001

Partial

27 (8.2)

3 (1.6)

24 (16.4)

Incorrect

83 (25.3)

73 (40.1)

10 (6,8)

Correct

192 (58.5)

87 (47.8)

105 (71.9)

Checks that the result is realistic (n = 343)

No

28 (8.1)

19 (10.7)

9 (5.4)

< .001

Partially

21 (6.1)

12 (6.8)

9 (5.4)

Incorrectly

112 (32.9)

92 (52.0)

21 (12.6)

Correctly

182 (52.9)

54 (30.5)

128 (76.6)

Extracts the key information from the question (n = 793)

No

43 (5.4)

38 (11.0)

5 (1.1)

< .001

Partially

348 (43.9)

173 (49.9)

175 (39.2)

Incorrectly

16 (2.0)

16 (4.6)

0

Correctly

386 (48.7)

120 (34.6)

266 (59.6)

Understands the question (n = 863)

Partially

61 (7.1)

59 (14.5)

2 (0.4)

< .001

Incorrectly

146 (16.9)

145 (35.5)

1 (0.2)

Correctly

656 (76.0)

204 (50.0)

452 (99.3)

Units of measurement in their answer (n = 794)

No

27 (3.4)

20 (5.8)

7 (1.6)

< .001

Partial

29 (3.7)

20 (5.8)

9 (2.0)

Incorrect

1 (0.1)

1 (0.3)

0

Correct

737 (92.8)

306 (88.2)

431 (96.4)

Correct units of measurement in their answer (n = 772)

Partial

37 (4.8)

29 (8.8)

8 (1.8)

< .001

Incorrect

83 (10.8)

79 (23.9)

4 (0.9)

Correct

652 (84.5)

223 (67.4)

429 (97.3)

Appropriate volume of diluent (n = 251)

Incorrect

60 (23.9)

55 (35.3)

5 (5.3)

< .001

Correct

191 (76.1)

101 (64.7)

90 (94.7)

Use of conversion factor (n = 168)

Incorrect

8 (4.8)

8 (11.0)

0

.001

Correct

160 (95.2)

65 (89.0)

95 (100)

Use of the ratio-proportion method (n = 554)

Incorrect

60 (10.8)

57 (25.8)

3 (0.9)

< .001

Correct

494 (89.2)

164 (74.2)

330 (99.1)

Understanding of unit equivalences (n = 289)

Incorrect

109 (37.7)

107 (56.9)

2 (2.0)

< .001

Correct

180 (62.3)

81 (43.1)

99 (98.0)

Understanding of percentages (n = 122)

Incorrect

63 (51.6)

59 (89.4)

4 (7.1)

< .001

Correct

59 (48.4)

7 (10.6)

52 (92.9)

Understanding of maximum concentration and minimum dilution (n = 152)

Incorrect

74 (48.7)

71 (67.0)

3 (6.5)

< .001

Correct

78 (51.3)

35 (33.0)

43 (93.5)

Understanding of continuous and intermittent infusion (n = 436)

Incorrect

87 (20.0)

83 (31.7)

4 (2.3)

< .001

Correct

349 (80.0)

179 (68.3)

170 (97.7)

Infusion rate calculation (n = 345)

Incorrect

130 (37.7)

122 (56.0)

8 (6.3)

< .001

Correct

215 (62.3)

96 (44.0)

119 (93.7)

Infusion time calculation (n = 355)

Incorrect

105 (29.6)

100 (45.5)

5 (3.7)

< .001

Correct

250 (70.4)

120 (54.5)

130 (96.3)

Knowledge of equipment for drug administration (n = 232)

Incorrect

65 (28.0)

59 (36.6)

6 (8.5)

< .001

Correct

167 (72.0)

102 (63.4)

65 (91.5)

Follows the correct steps (n = 794)

No

260 (32.7)

253 (72.9)

7 (1.6)

< .001

Yes

534 (67.3)

94 (27.1)

440 (98.4)

Error carried forward (n = 347)

No

78 (22.5)

77 (22.3)

1 (50.0)

.400

Yes

269 (77.5)

268 (77.7)

1 (50.0)