The accuracy of the Broselow tape in weight estimation among pediatric population

Abstract

Introduction. Accurate body weight estimation in pediatric emergencies is of crucial importance for successful interventions. One of the most commonly used one-dimensional methods for quick estimation of body weight is the Broselow pediatric emergency tape that is based on correlation between body weight and body height. The objective of this study was to determine the accuracy and precision of the estimated body weight with the Broselow tape in children. Material and Methods. The study was conducted as an observational cross-sectional study at the Novi Sad HealthCenter. Data on body weight and height were collected according to a pre-prepared protocol from randomly selected medical records of 750 children who visited the Counseling Center in the period of six months and classified into three age categories. Results. The accuracy of the Broselow tape was 46.3% (95%, confidence interval 42.7 - 49.9), i.e. in 46.3% of children the deviation of the estimated values based on the Broselow tape in relation to the reference (measured) body weight did not exceed 10%. The average percentage error was -3.10 ? 17.4% and further analysis revealed a significant difference in the three analyzed groups (F = 49.182, p < 0.001). The average absolute percentage error was 13.7 ? 11.0% and further analysis revealed a significant difference in the three analyzed groups (F = 13.116, p < 0.001). Conclusion. The highest reliability of the Broselow tape was found in the group of children aged 2 to 6 years. Although this method offers several advantages over other methods for assessing body weight in pediatric emergencies, healthcare professionals must be aware of its limitations.