Medication Errors in the 21st Century: Extent, Causes, and Interventions

A medication error can be defined as 'any preventable event that may cause or lead to inappropriate medication use or patient harm while the medication is under the control of the healthcare professional, patient or consumer'. There is a huge possibility of medication errors during the following stages;

1) deciding which medication and dosage regimen should be used (underprescribing, overprescribing, irrational prescribing, prescribing faults);

2) prescription writing (prescription faults);

3) formulation/manufacturing medication (wrong packaging, wrong strength, presence of contaminants or adulterants);

4) formulation dispensing (wrong drug, wrong label, wrong formulation);

5) medication administration (wrong drug, wrong dose, wrong route, wrong frequency, wrong duration);

6) therapy monitoring (failing to modify drug therapy according to the clinical needs of the patient).

This special article collection will primarily focus on the occurrence of medication errors and their impact on patient’s health and healthcare system. Besides, it will also explore strategies to prevent medication errors. Articles submitted on these issues could be critical in developing a complete and central health care infrastructure.

The main themes of this article collection include but are not limited to;

1) current status, extent, problems, and sources of medication errors

2) impact of medication errors on patient safety and healthcare system

3) Medication errors and adverse drug events

4) Detection and reporting systems of medication errors

5) Approaches and strategies to limit the risk of medication errors

6) Impact of collaboration among healthcare professionals on medication errors