Nursing Practices Towards Prevention of Medication Errors: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Abstract

This meta-analysis aimed to systematically examine the articles about the practices of nurses to prevent medication errors in hospitals. This research was conducted using the meta-analysis method, one of the quantitative research methods. With the determined keywords, Google Scholar, Web of Science, Scopus, Science Direct, EKUAL, Google Academic EBSCOhost, MEDLINE, CINAHL, PUBMED, and ULAKBİM TIP electronic databases were scanned. Thirty-two full-text articles published in peer-reviewed journals between 2000-2020 were included in the study. The study’s effect size and publication bias included in the meta-analysis were calculated using the CMA 3 (Comprehensive Meta-Analysis) program. The total sample number of the studies included in the analysis is 3894. According to the random-effects model, the overall effect size between medication errors and nursing practices to prevent medication errors was statistically significant, with a value of 1,949 (G.A; 1,463-2,519; p <0.05). As a result of this meta-analysis, it was determined that continuing education, technology-based practices, and mixed methods (correct principles in drug administration, prevention of interruptions and divisions, policies and procedures) effectively prevent medication administration errors in the hospital.