If a medication must be administered "every hour," which abbreviation would be used?

The abbreviation "qh" stands for "quaque hora," which is Latin for "every hour." When a medication is prescribed to be taken or administered every hour, this specific abbreviation is used to clearly convey the frequency of the administration, ensuring that both healthcare providers and patients understand the timing involved.

In contrast, other abbreviations have different meanings:

• "q2h" means every 2 hours, which would not provide the necessary frequency for administration every hour.
• "q4h" indicates every 4 hours, which is again too infrequent for the requirement of "every hour."
• "qid" refers to "four times a day," which does not specify hourly administration and would not be appropriate in this context.

Thus, using "qh" accurately communicates the intended frequency of medication administration as required.