Safety Culture and Multidisciplinary Teamwork in Paediatric Care Transitions: A Systematic Review
Year: 2026
Type: review
Study design: Systematic Review
Abstract: Objective: This systematic review synthesises current evidence on the role of organisational safety culture and team-based approaches in medication safety and accuracy during paediatric care transitions. Study Setting and Design: A systematic review was conducted in accordance with PRISMA 2020 guidelines, focusing on studies that examined organizational or team-based approaches to medication safety and medication reconciliation at paediatric transition points, including admission, transfer, handover, and discharge. Data Sources and Analytic Sample: PubMed was systematically searched for studies published up to August 2026, identifying 108 records. After screening and applying predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria, 13 studies were included in the final synthesis. Principal Findings: Across heterogeneous study designs and paediatric transition settings, medication discrepancies were frequently identified at admission, transfer, and discharge. Pharmacist involvement, structured medication reconciliation, and standardised communication processes were recurrent components of interventions associated with improved medication-information accuracy. Because the evidence was predominantly observational and quality-improvement-based, findings were interpreted as associations rather than evidence of causality. Conclusions: The available evidence suggests that team-based approaches, particularly pharmacist involvement, structured medication reconciliation, and standardised communication processes, are associated with improved medication safety and accuracy during paediatric care transitions. Organisational support and clearly defined interprofessional roles may facilitate the implementation of these approaches. Further high-quality studies are needed to clarify their effectiveness across different paediatric transition settings.
Source: Children
Authors: Agon Hoti, Leona Cilar Budler
Institution: University of Maribor
Language: English
Subfield: Emergency Medical Services
Field: Health Professions
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $2,896
OpenAlex ID: W7221508263