Unraveling medication errors in Indian scholarly articles (2010–2023): A comprehensive review

Abstract

Despite ongoing research, there is a lack of emphasis on implementing strategies to improve medication safety and enhance patient care, highlighting the urgent need for robust interventions. This review aims to synthesize existing literature, advocate for greater attention to medication safety practices, and catalyze efforts toward fostering a culture of safety and excellence in medication management in Indian healthcare systems. Following PRISMA-ScR guidelines, a systematic review was conducted, utilizing various databases to search for relevant Indian papers. A total of 29 papers were categorized and subjected to thorough analysis to fulfill the review’s objectives. The analysis revealed that a majority of articles identified prescription errors as the most prevalent, often attributed to non-adherence. Antibiotics emerged as a significant contributor to medication errors, as highlighted by several studies, with errors categorized predominantly as A and B according to NCCMERP criteria. The literature review underscores a predominance of prospective observational and quantitative studies, notably lacking qualitative research which could enrich insights into patient communication strategies on medication errors. Studies predominantly conducted in individual hospital settings lack region-wide prevalence calculations, and while some intervention studies were identified, specific recommendations for further action remain lacking, suggesting a need for future research to bridge this gap.