A systematic literature review on strategies to avoid look-alike errors of labels

European Journal of Clinical Pharmacology
Karin H M Larmené-BeldKatja Taxis

Abstract

Unclear labeling has been recognized as an important cause of look-alike medication errors. The aim of this literature review is to systematically evaluate the current evidence on strategies to minimize medication errors due to look-alike labels. A literature search of PubMed and EMBASE for all available years was performed independently by two reviewers. Original studies assessing strategies to minimize medication errors due to look-alike labels focusing on readability of labels by health professionals or consumers were included. Data were analyzed descriptively due to the variability of study methods. Sixteen studies were included. Thirteen studies were performed in a laboratory and three in a healthcare setting. Eleven studies evaluated Tall Man lettering, i.e., capitalizing parts of the drug name, two color-coding, and three studies other strategies. In six studies, lower error rates were found for the Tall Man letter strategy; one showed significantly higher error rates. Effects of Tall Man lettering on response time were more varied. A study in the hospital setting did not show an effect on the potential look-alike sound-alike error rate by introducing Tall Man lettering. Color-coding had no effect on the prevention of sy...Continue Reading

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Citations

Oct 3, 2019·International Anesthesiology Clinics·R Lebron CooperPaul Barach
Sep 5, 2019·Pharmacoepidemiology and Drug Safety·Noelle M CocorosSengwee Toh
Jun 20, 2020·Therapeutic Advances in Drug Safety·Richard Simon YoungAndrew Carson-Stevens
Jan 31, 2020·BMC Health Services Research·Irene Lizano-DíezPilar Modamio
Jun 21, 2020·European Journal of Clinical Pharmacology·K H M Larmené-BeldK Taxis
Nov 17, 2020·British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology·Rachel BryanSue Jordan
Jan 28, 2021·European Journal of Clinical Pharmacology·Johannes HeckOlaf Krause
Dec 29, 2020·Clinical Case Reports·Johannes HeckOlaf Krause
Apr 25, 2019·Thérapie·Frédéric TranchardFabien Despas
Sep 3, 2021·Contemporary Clinical Trials Communications·Hanan AboumatarRobert AWise
Nov 26, 2021·The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews·Agustín CiapponiEzequiel Garcia-Elorrio

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