MEDICATION SAFETY Figure 1. Flow Diagram of Literature Search Results
included drug diversion, name differentiation, verbal order, drug storage, medication reconciliation, and medication cart. Included were research and non-research literature in English, complete publications, and publications with dates within the time restriction when available. Excluded were non-peer-reviewed publications and older evidence within the time restriction when more recent evidence was avail- able. Editorials, news items, and other brief items were excluded. Low-quality evidence was excluded when higher- quality evidence was available, and literature outside the time restriction was excluded when literature within the time restriction was available. Also excluded were articles that presented a bundled approach, articles that described medication errors and corrective situations involving nurs- ing students, and prevalence studies with no interventions for correction. Some international studies were excluded because the results are not generalizable to the United States (Figure 1).
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Articles identified in the search were provided to the project team for evaluation. The team consisted of the lead author and three evidence appraisers. The lead author divided the search results into topics and assigned members of the team to review and critically appraise each article using the AORN Research or Non-Research Evidence Appraisal Tools as appropriate. The literature was indepen- dently evaluated and appraised according to the strength and quality of the evidence. Each article was then assigned an appraisal score. The appraisal score is noted in brackets after each reference as applicable.
Each recommendation rating is based on a synthesis of
the collective evidence, a benefit-harm assessment, and con- sideration of resource use. The strength of the recommen- dation was determined using the AORN Evidence Rating Model and the quality and consistency of the evidence sup- porting a recommendation. The recommendation strength rating is noted in brackets after each recommendation.
