The Effectiveness and Feasibility of human roles and systems involved in routine medication administration systems and processes to prevent medication incidents in acute care settings: a systematic review

Objectives The overall objective is to investigate what human roles and systems are most effective and feasible for preventing medication incidents during routine medication administration in hospital-based acute care settings. The review will consider the effectiveness and feasibility of the following interventions in preventing medication incidents: • Timing of administration • Type and dosage of drug • Route of administration • Type of patient • Type of staff Member, for example nurse • Type of acute care setting • Drug delivery and storage • Dispensing system Inclusion Criteria Types of participants The participants in this review will consist of: hospital- based acute care setting nurses, pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, medical and surgical staff in acute care settings and adult patients in acute care settings. Types of interventions This review examines two major types of intervention: Administration systems • Self administration • Trolley systems • Single unit systems • Pharmacy to ward systems Administration processes • Documentation/recording • Drug types • Prescribing • Single nurse administration • Multiple nurse administration • Level/role of nurse • Patient involvement Types of outcome measures There are three types of outcome measures: Medication incident rate Hospital staff and adult patient satisfaction with medication administration system and process Practicality/applicability of medication administration system and process