BEST METHODS FOR MEDICATION ERROR PREVENTION AND REPORTING SYSTEM IMPROVEMENT

Abstract

Background: Numerous population-based studies have continuously demonstrated alarmingly high rates of medication errors and avoidable deaths. An effective practice relies on a robust reporting system for pharmaceutical errors, which also serves as an indicator of our advancement in achieving safety. The aim of improving drug error reporting systems and enacting systemic reforms is to reduce the danger of harming future patients. This study aims to provide an overview of the culture surrounding medication error reporting, incidence reporting systems, the development of successful reporting methodology, the analysis of medication error reports, and recommendations for improving reporting systems. Approaches: Electronic databases, such as PubMed, Ovid, EBSCOhost, EMBASE, and ProQuest, were examined from 1 January 1998 to 30 June 2020. A total of 180 articles were discovered, of which 60 were finally employed in the study. Two reviewers extracted the data, while two other reviewers validated it. The search produced 684 articles, which were subsequently narrowed down to 60 by eliminating duplicates based on title, abstract, and full-text examination. The majority of the studies were conducted in the United States and the United Kingdom. Submissions from Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Korea, Japan, Greece, France, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt were limited in number. Identifying, quantifying, and evaluating drug errors require an active methodology rather than a passive strategy. Initiatives must be implemented to promote the reporting of pharmaceutical errors, encompassing the education of personnel on improvement areas and the identification of root causes. The taxonomy established by the National Coordinating Council for Medication Error Reporting and Prevention functions as a classification system for elucidating and examining the specifics of individual medication error occurrences. Conclusion: An efficient medication mistake reporting program must guarantee reporter safety, offer constructive ideas and enhancements for all stakeholders, and be inclusive, supported by enough resources. Health organizations must provide an efficient reporting framework for the medication utilization process to improve dependability in practice.