EFFECTIVENESS OF THE IMPLEMENTATION OF PATIENT SAFETY PROTOCOLS IN EMERGENCY CARE UNITS

Abstract

This study consisted of a narrative literature review aimed at analyzing and synthesizing the available scientific evidence on the effectiveness of implementing patient safety protocols in emergency care units (UPAs), highlighting advances, challenges, and impacts on the quality of care. Patient safety is a fundamental element in urgent care services, where rapid and precise decision-making is crucial for preventing adverse events and improving clinical outcomes. The review included articles published between 2015 and 2025, available in Portuguese, English, or Spanish, retrieved from PubMed, BVS, LILACS, and SciELO databases. Observational studies, clinical trials, case reports, and clinical experiences addressing the implementation of patient safety protocols, nursing staff adherence, and impacts on care quality were included. The screening and analysis of studies followed PRISMA 2020 recommendations, allowing the information to be organized in summary tables and critically interpreted. The results indicate that implementing structured protocols, combined with staff training and engagement, significantly contributes to reducing adverse events, early risk identification, and strengthening the safety culture. However, limitations such as methodological heterogeneity, the scarcity of multicenter studies, and the lack of standardized effectiveness indicators were observed. Therefore, future research should explore integrated approaches, evaluating professional and technological engagement strategies to consolidate robust evidence on protocol effectiveness and continuously enhance patient safety in emergency care units.