Medication errors' causes analysis in home care setting: A systematic review.

Area of Science:

• Pharmacovigilance and Patient Safety
• Healthcare Management and Policy

Background:

• Medication errors are a significant concern in healthcare.
• Research on medication errors in the home care setting is limited compared to hospital settings.
• Transitional care phases are particularly vulnerable for medication-related adverse events.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify key risk factors contributing to medication errors in home care.
• To propose evidence-based solutions for mitigating medication errors within the home care environment.

Main Methods:

• A systematic review of existing literature was conducted.
• The review adhered to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines.
• Critical analysis focused on identifying risk factors and solutions for home care medication errors.

Main Results:

• Medication errors in home care predominantly occur during transitions between care settings.
• Identified risk factors include poor interprofessional communication, non-standardized medication reconciliation, and limited pharmacist integration.
• The widespread use of computerized tools was also noted as a potential risk factor.

Conclusions:

• Integrating pharmacists into the healthcare team is crucial for accurate medication reconciliation.
• Implementing standardized processes and leveraging computerized tools can enhance interprofessional communication and reduce information dispersion.
• These strategies are vital for minimizing medication errors and improving patient safety in home care.