Guideline adherence for controlling incidence of medication errors: a systematic mixed-method review

Area of Science:

• Healthcare Management
• Patient Safety
• Clinical Practice Guidelines

Background:

• Adherence to medication therapy guidelines is crucial for patient safety and quality of care.
• Understanding factors influencing adherence is key for healthcare professionals.
• This review synthesizes knowledge on medication guideline adherence.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify and categorize factors affecting healthcare professionals' adherence to medication guidelines.
• To explore interventions that can improve medication guideline adherence.
• To enhance the understanding of medication safety practices.

Main Methods:

• Systematic mixed-methods review of studies from 2011-2023.
• Searched five databases for qualitative, quantitative, and mixed-methods studies.
• Data extracted and synthesized using narrative synthesis and appraised with the Mixed Methods Assessment Tool (MMAT).

Main Results:

• Twenty studies were included, revealing factors influencing adherence vary by professional role and setting.
• Factors were categorized into guideline, personnel, system, and leadership levels.
• Effective interventions include educational programs, pharmacist-led initiatives, and computerized prescribing systems.

Conclusions:

• A typology of factors is provided to aid organizations in enhancing medication safety adherence.
• Multifaceted, multidisciplinary programs are essential for addressing guideline adherence.
• Hospital pharmacists play a vital role in improving medication adherence.