Comparison of the reviewed studies was confounded by differences in study setting, research method and operational definitions for dispensing errors, error rate and classification of error types. The World Health Organization is currently developing global patient safety taxonomy. Such a standardized taxonomy for dispensing errors would facilitate consistent data collection and assist the development of error-reduction strategies.

Objectives To identify, review and evaluate the published literature on the incidence, type and causes of dispensing errors in community and hospital pharmacy. Method Electronic databases were searched from 1966 to February 2008. This was supplemented by hand-searching the bibliographies of retrieved articles. Analysis of the findings explored the research methods, operational definitions, incidence, type and causes of dispensing errors. Key findings Sixty papers were identified investigating dispensing errors in the UK, US, Australia, Spain and Brazil. In general, the incidence of dispensing errors varied depending on the study setting, dispensing system, research method and operational definitions. The most common dispensing errors identified by community and hospital pharmacies were dispensing the wrong drug, strength, form or quantity, or labelling medication with the incorrect directions. Factors subjectively reported as contributing to dispensing errors were look-alike, sound-alike drugs, low staffing and computer software. High workload, interruptions, distractions and inadequate lighting were objectively shown to increase the occurrence of dispensing errors. Conclusions Comparison of the reviewed studies was confounded by differences in study setting, research method and operational definitions for dispensing errors, error rate and classification of error types. The World Health Organization is currently developing global patient safety taxonomy. Such a standardized taxonomy for dispensing errors would facilitate consistent data collection and assist the development of error-reduction strategies.

Objective To monitor unprevented dispensing incidents in NHS hospitals by identifying incident types, drugs involved and factors that may have contributed to the occurrence of incidents. Setting All 20 Welsh NHS hospitals (15 district general; 2 teaching; 2 psychiatric and 1 other specialist hospital). Method Unprevented dispensing incidents that occurred between January 2003 and December 2004 were reported and analysed using a validated method. Incident rate was calculated for those hospitals that provided both incident and issue data. Incident rate was compared with previous research using a two‐sample t‐test. Reported incident types and contributory factors were compared with previous research using chi‐square analysis. Key findings A total of 1005 unprevented dispensing incidents were reported by 20 hospitals. The overall incident rate, based on data from 17 hospitals, was 16 incidents per 100000 items dispensed (range 0.2–46 incidents per 100000 items dispensed). The overall dispensing incident rate was less than previously reported (18 incidents per 100000 items dispensed).This finding was not statistically significant (t = 0.421, P = 0.676). The most common incidents reported were dispensing the wrong strength of drug (n = 241, 24%), wrong drug (n = 168, 17%), wrong form (n = 134, 13%) and printing the wrong warnings/directions on the label (n = 112, 11%). A statistically significant finding was that fewer incidents involving dispensing the wrong drug were reported by Welsh hospitals (17%) compared to previous research in the UK (23%; P = 0.01). Drugs most commonly involved in incidents were insulin (n = 34; 6 incidents per 10000 issues of insulin), nifedipine (n = 16; 10 incidents per 10000 issues of nifedipine) and carbamazepine (n = 10; 5 incidents per 10000 issues of carbamazepine). Conclusion The overall unprevented dispensing incident rate was less than previously reported. Dispensing the wrong strength of the correct drug is a problem. Staff should be aware of the risk of dispensing incidents involving insulin, nifedipine and carbamazepine. Strategies for minimising dispensing incidents include using shelf labels to highlight different strengths or formulations of the same drug, and educating staff about easily confused drugs.

Key Points Question Can a brief blended digital therapy targeting reasoning (SlowMo) improve paranoia for adults with psychosis when added to usual care? Findings This randomized clinical trial of 361 individuals with clinical paranoia did not demonstrate that SlowMo therapy reduced the primary outcome of self-reported paranoia at 24 weeks compared with usual care only, although secondary beneficial effects were found on this measure at 12 weeks. Self-reported persecution and observer-rated paranoia were improved at both points. Meaning SlowMo, a digitally supported reasoning intervention, indicated a beneficial effect on paranoia; further work to optimize the effects of SlowMo is warranted.

This pilot study compared mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) with a self-help guide based on cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) for university students experiencing difficulties due to perfectionism. Participants were randomised to an MBCT intervention specifically tailored for perfectionism or pure CBT self-help. Questionnaires were completed at baseline, 8 weeks later (corresponding to the end of MBCT) and at 10-week follow-up. Post-intervention intention-to-treat (ITT) analyses identified that MBCT participants (n = 28) had significantly lower levels of perfectionism and stress than self-help participants (n = 32). There was significant MBCT superiority for changes in unhelpful beliefs about emotions, rumination, mindfulness, self-compassion and decentering. At 10-week follow-up, effects were maintained in the MBCT group, and analyses showed superior MBCT outcomes for perfectionism and daily impairment caused by perfectionism. Pre-post changes in self-compassion significantly mediated the group differences in pre-post changes in clinical perfectionism. Greater frequency of mindfulness practice was associated with larger improvements in self-compassion. MBCT is a promising intervention for perfectionist students, which may result in larger improvements than pure CBT self-help. The findings require replication with a larger sample.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (10.1007/s12671-017-0817-8) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.