Strategies used to minimize medication errors in emergency patients: an integrative review

Abstract

The aim os the study was to describe the strategies used to minimize medication errors in emergency patients. This is an integrative literature review, using PVO. It was elucidated: What are the necessary strategies to minimize the incorrect administration of medications in emergency clients? The search took place in: MEDLINE, LILACS and BDENF via VHL, in April 2022. DEC's: Medication Errors, Patient Safety and Hospital Emergency Service linked to the AND operator. Included: full text, associated themes, in Portuguese, English and Spanish between 2018-2022. Excluded: duplicate studies and off-topic articles. It found 2056 references, 9 of which were included. The error is related to factors such as: long hours, difficulties with technology, wrong prescriptions, complexity of the sector and fragile skills. Therefore, strategies such as permanent education, identification and distinction of medications are adopted. The correct administration is relevant, as it allows the safeguarding of security and when it is not performed correctly, it impacts on care