Objective 

Preventing medication errors and improving patient safety in pediatric anesthesia are top priorities. This systematic scoping review was conducted to identify and summarize reports on medication errors in pediatric anesthesia. The study also aimed to qualitatively synthesize medication error situations in pediatric anesthesia and recommendations to eliminate/minimize them.

Methods 

The databases: Cochrane, MEDLINE through PubMed, Embase, CINAHL through EBSCO, and PsycINFO were extensively searched from their inception to March 3, 2020. Error situations in pediatric anesthesia and recommendations to minimize/reduce these errors were synthesized qualitatively. Recommendations were graded by level of evidence using the methodology of the Joanna Briggs Institute.

Results 

Data were extracted from 39 publications. Dosing errors were the most commonly reported. Scenarios representing medication (n = 33) error situations in pediatric anesthesia and recommendations to eliminate/minimize medication errors (n = 36) were qualitatively synthesized. Of the recommendations, 2 (5.6%) were related to manufacture, 4 (11.1%) were related to policy, 1 (2.8%) was related to presentation to user, 1 (2.8%) was related to process tools, 17 (47.2%) were related to administration, 3 (8.3%) were related to recording/documentation, and 8 (22.2%) recommendations were classified as others. Of those, 29 (80.6%), 3 (8.3%), 3 (8.3%), and 1 (2.8%) were graded as evidence level 1, 2, 3, and 5, respectively.

Discussion 

Medication error situations that might occur in pediatric anesthesia and recommendations on how to eliminate/minimize medication errors were also qualitatively synthesized. Adherence to recommendations might reduce the incidence of medication errors in pediatric anesthesia.

Title

Journal of Patient Safety

Publisher

Lippincott

Publisher Country

United States of America

Indexing

Thomson Reuters

Impact Factor

2.844

Publication Type

Both (Printed and Online)

Volume

18

Year

2022

Pages

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