Table 3.

Summary of interventions that were implemented in studies that significantly reduced medication errors (34 interventions of total 44 identified interventions within 14 of 20 identified studies).

Main risk control aspect	Number of interventions in studies with significantly positive results	Intervention type
Substitution	n = 3	Standardized dilutions (75)
		Pharmacist production unit (64)
		Smart pumps (72)
Engineering controls	n = 7	Electronic workflow/CPOE (59)
		Enhanced medication delivery equipment (72)
		Hands-free communication equipment (2×) (69, 72)
		Barcoded medication administration (2×) (69, 72)
		Computerized alert (66)
Administrative controls	n = 24	Education and/or practical training (8×) (56–58, 61, 64, 69, 72)*
		Guidelines or protocols (6×) (56, 63, 65, 69, 72, 75)
		Rearrangement of staff or equipment (3×) (63, 64)†
		Expert consultation (4×) (60, 64, 70)‡
		Warning signs (3×) (63, 69)§

^*Keiffer et al. implemented two different educational interventions (medication error huddles and “5 rights education”).

^†Ozkan et al. implemented two different rearrangement interventions (decrease of patient-to-nurse ratio and modified delivery time of medications).

^‡Abuelsoud et al. implemented two different expert consultation interventions (implementation of a clinical pharmacist within the medical team and a drug information service).

^§Ozkan et al. implemented two different warning sign interventions (written alert on the door of the preparation room and signaling arm bands for medication-preparing nurses).