Interventions to Reduce Medication Dispensing, Administration, and Monitoring Errors in Pediatric Professional Healthcare Settings: A Systematic Review

Introduction: Pediatric patients cared for in professional healthcare settings are at high risk of medication errors. Interventions to improve patient safety often focus on prescribing; however, the subsequent stages use process (dispensing, drug administration, and monitoring) also error-prone. This systematic review aims identify analyze interventions reduce dispensing, monitoring errors pediatric settings. Methods: Four databases were searched experimental studies with separate control intervention groups, published English between 2011 2019. classified first time according “hierarchy controls” model, which predicts that higher levels more likely bring about change. Higher-level aim risks through elimination, substitution, or engineering controls. Examples these include introduction smart pumps instead standard (a substitution control) mandatory barcode scanning administration (an control). Administrative controls such as guidelines, warning signs, educational approaches lower hierarchy therefore predicted by this model be less successful. Results: Twenty met inclusion criteria, including 1 study dispensing errors, 7 12 targeting multiple steps process. A total 44 identified. Eleven considered higher-level (four seven controls). The majority ( n = 33) “administrative indicating a potential reliance measures. Studies implemented observed confirming may useful setting. Heterogeneous methods, definitions, outcome measures meant meta-analysis was not appropriate. Conclusions: When designing should considered, placed controls, than administrative seen practice. Trial Registration Prospero Identifier: CRD42016047127.