Abstract
Objectives: Over the last few years, hospitals have embraced automated drug dispensing technologies aiming to streamline processes, minimise medication errors, and boost safety for patients and medical staff alike. This review endeavours to synthesise and critically assess current evidence concerning these technologies and their integration into clinical practice. Methods: The research, conducted in October 2022, based on two databases, Scopus and PubMed, searches peer-reviewed articles or reviews published in English, considering a time frame between 1995 and 2022. In addition, grey literature is considered. Four distinct comparison scenarios were delineated for evidence evaluation. Only studies using a comparative approach to describe the safety, efficacy, and efficiency of technologies and undergoing quality assessment (Newcastle-Ottawa Scale, IMPAQHTA model and AACODS checklist) were incorporated. Results were synthesised with a narrative approach. Results: After removing duplicates, 203 papers were screened, and nine observational studies were included in the narrative synthesis. Evidence indicates that automation substantially mitigates errors in drug administration, encompassing dosage mistakes and curtails errors in drug dispensing and distribution. Furthermore, it economises the time healthcare professionals devote to medication management. Conclusions: Automated dispensing technologies bolster safety and efficiency for both patients and healthcare staff. Yet, existing evidence chiefly pertains to either pharmacy-based or ward-based scenarios, side-lining integrated solutions across both and results are not completely generalizable considering the observational local approach. To truly gauge these technologies' merits, a broad multi-dimensional research lens is essential, furnishing insights for informed decision-making.