Strategies to Reduce Patient Harm From Infusion-Associated Medication Errors

A Scoping Review

Abstract

A scoping review of the literature examined strategies to prevent infusion-associated medication errors. Twenty articles were appraised and revealed studies using different research designs and types of literature reviews. Most were rated low quality. Observations in clinical agencies and laboratory settings were sites of some investigations. The work environment—including staffing, health care providers' education and supervision, standardizing equipment, protocols that supported medication decision-making and administration processes, medication lists, computerized devices, and cognitive aids—were addressed as strategies. The array of studies points to aspects of the complexity of the administration process for infusion-associated medications.