Table 1 Search strategy for the medline

1

automated medication dispens*.ti,ab. (20)

2

automated medication distribut*.ti,ab. (6)

3

automated drug distribut*.ti,ab. (5)

4

automated drug dispens*.ti,ab. (14)

5

automated dose-dispens*.ti,ab. (3)

6

automated dose distribut*.ti,ab. (0)

7

automated dispensing system*.ti,ab. (29)

8

multidose drug dispens*.ti,ab. (0)

9

multi-dose drug dispens*.ti,ab. (2)

10

multidose drug distribut*.ti,ab. (1)

11

multi-dose drug distribut*.ti,ab. (1)

12

unit-dose dispens*.ti,ab. (45)

13

unit-dose distribut*.ti,ab. (33)

14

(automat* adj2 (dispens* or distribut*) adj2 (device* or system* or scheme*)).ti,ab. (96)

15

(automat* adj2 dose dispens*).ti,ab. (7)

16

(automat* adj2 dose distribut*).ti,ab. (10)

17

((multidose or multi-dose) adj2 dispens*).ti,ab. (8)

18

((multidose or multi-dose) adj2 distribut*).ti,ab. (5)

19

(unit-dose adj2 (dispens* or distribut*)).ti,ab. (218)

20

or/1-19 (350)

21

(news or letter or comment or editorial or interview or historical article).pt. (1438428)

22

20 not 21 (338)

23

limit 22 to yr=”1995-current