What does the abbreviation "pq" stand for in medical terminology?

In medical terminology, the abbreviation "pq" stands for "every other day." This shorthand is used in clinical settings to indicate that a medication or treatment should be administered on alternate days, allowing for a systematic approach to prescribing that can help manage dosage schedules and treatment plans efficiently.

The use of "pq" helps healthcare providers communicate more effectively about patient care, ensuring that there is no ambiguity in how often a treatment should occur, which is essential for maintaining proper therapeutic levels of medication in the body.

In contrast, the other options represent different terms: "past medical history" is often abbreviated as PMH, "as needed" is typically denoted by the abbreviation PRN, and "by mouth" is usually written as PO (per os). Each of these abbreviations serves a distinct purpose in medical documentation, but "pq" specifically denotes the frequency of administration as every other day.