Factors associated with medication errors in health care and preventive strategies to reduce them: an integrative review.

Abstract

Abstract Medication errors (MEs) represents a major patient safety threat in healthcare system worldwide, Global estimation for medication errors related financial burden is US$ 42 billion annually and 4.5-21.8 billion for Europe. This integrative review aims to integrate knowledge related to associated factors of medication errors and synthesize evidence-based strategies to minimize those errors.

This thesis is an integrative literature review using qualitative approach. Data collection was performed systematically accessing three databases: Cinahl Complete, Academic Search Elite, and Medline respectively. Inductive content analysis approach has been chosen for data analysis.

Factors such as workload, poor interprofessional communication, nonadherence to medication guidelines, interruptions in work, lack of experience, and medication complexity were identified as associated factors of MEs. Similarly, Strategies like educational intervention, trained pharmacy assistant involvement in medication administration rounds, integration of technology and nurses’ participation in prescription writing were found significantly effective preventive strategies to reduces MEs. Future research should be focus on multidisciplinary approach in medication prescribing, education intervention and effective integration technology as well as pharmacist in safe medication. _______________________________________________________________________________ Language: English Key Words: medication errors, nurses, medication errors prevention and control