Effect of nurse informatics on medication errors, patients' satisfaction, and quality patient care - A systematic...

Digital innovation has revolutionized healthcare, with information technologies addressing challenges faced by health care professionals. Nursing informatics aids nurses in decision-making by integrating information management and analytical sciences. The aim of the study was to assess the effect of nurse informatics on medication errors, patient satisfaction, and quality care. A systematic search of online databases was conducted from 2000 to 2024 for relevant RCTs and non-RCTs globally in English language. The population was nurses in hospitals; intervention was nurse informatics or electronic health records; comparators were standard nursing care; and outcomes were medication errors, patient satisfaction, and quality patient care. Data were analyzed by using PRISMA guidelines and RevMan 5.4 version software. Forest plot was used for all outcomes by considering substantial heterogeneity as I² > 50% at P ≤ 0.05. Out of 771 studies, 14 met inclusion criteria (eight RCTs for meta-analysis, six non-RCTs narrative synthesis). The nurse informatics group had significant reduction in medication errors by 27% (RR 0.73, 95% CI = 0.65-0.82; P = 0.00001). However, patient satisfaction was favored by standard nursing care group (MD 0.22, 95% CI = 0.08-0.37; P = 0.002), while quality patient care showed no clear preference between groups. Nursing informatics reduces medication errors but does not improve patient satisfaction or quality care. Most studies are from USA and China, highlighting the need for more researches to enhance nursing care strategies. There were several barriers for nursing informatics, which include lack of integration and appropriate database by nursing personnels in the hospital settings.