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Background Information technology to aid reduction in medication errors has been encouraged over the years and one of them is the medication administration technology. It consists of the electronic Medication Administration Record, Bar-Code Medication Administration system and Automated Medication Dispensing system. Studies had examined the effectiveness and impact of this technology to reduce medication error. However, user's acceptance towards this technology has often been neglected. To date, no systematic review has been undertaken to examine the possible factors that affect nurses' use of this technology in the acute care settings. Objectives The objective of this systematic review was to explore and determine the factors that affect nurses' use of medication administration technology in the acute care settings. Inclusion Criteria Type of studies All quantitative studies published in English which examined factors affecting nurses' use of the medication administration technology were considered. Types of participants Primary focus was on registered nurses with experience of operating medication administration technology in the acute care settings. Other healthcare personnel were excluded. Phenomenon of interest This review considered studies that evaluated factors affecting nurses' use of the medication administration technology. Types of outcome measures The outcome measures of interest were the factors that affect nurses' use of the medication administration technology in the acute care settings. Search strategy The search was conducted across published and unpublished databases. A search was conducted in JBI Library of Systematic Reviews, The Cochrane Library, CINAHL, MEDLINE, Scopus, ScienceDirect, Wiley InterScience, SpringerLink, PsycINFO (ovid), Web of science, ProQuest Dissertations and Theses, and MedNar. Methodological Quality Papers selected for retrieval were assessed by two independent reviewers for methodological validity prior to inclusion in the review, using the standardised critical appraisal instruments developed by the Joanna Briggs Institute. Data Collection/ Extraction Quantitative data were extracted from papers included in the review using a standardised data extraction tool developed by the JBI. Data Synthesis Findings were presented in narrative summary due to heterogeneity of the study designs. Results Six descriptive studies were included in this review. Nurses' use of the technology can be influenced by a combination of complex and inter-related factors, such as organisational factors, and user and system characteristics. Conclusions In order to successfully implement medication administration technology, system, user and organisational factors have to be collaborated concurrently. Implications for practice Users' needs should be accommodated when designing the system features. Prior to system implementation, institutions should consider the users' demographical characteristics and provide adequate preparations and training. A supportive culture from the institution and colleagues is also important. Implications for research There is a significant need for further research in this field. Further research to discover potential factors in different settings, locations and countries are suggested. Studies to evaluate nurses' use of the technology at regular intervals are also required.
San et al. (Sun,) studied this question.