Look-alike medications in the perioperative setting: scoping review of medication incidents and risk reduction interventions

• DOI: 10.1007/s11096-023-01629-2
• Publication Date: 2023-09-09T10:02:14Z
• Authors: Alexandra N. Ryan; Kelvin L. Robertson; Beverley D. Glass
• Keywords: 690; Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions; Humans; Medication Errors; Review Article; Risk Reduction Behavior; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic

Look-alike medications, where ampoules or vials of intravenous medications look similar, may increase the risk medication errors in perioperative setting. This scoping review aimed to identify and explore issues related look-alike incidents setting reported reduction interventions. Eight databases were searched including: CINAHL Complete, Embase, OVID Emcare, Pubmed, Scopus, Informit, Cochrane Prospero using Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews Meta-Analysis Extension Scoping (PRISMA-ScR). Key search terms included anaesthesia, adverse drug event, error error, alike sound alike, operating theatres pharmacy. Title abstracts screened independently findings extracted validated tools collaboration consensus with co-authors. A total 2567 records identified 4th July 2022; however only 18 publications met inclusion criteria. Publication types consisted case reports, letters editor, multimodal quality improvement activities survey/audits, a controlled simulation study one randomised clinical trial. Risk intervention themes regulation, procurement, standardisation storage, labelling, environmental factors, teamwork factors safe administration. highlighted challenges interventions reduction. did not involve technology-based solutions further research is required assess their effectiveness preventing patient harm.