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Exploring Medication Errors with Antipsychotics in Saudi Arabia: Insights from a Nationwide Analysis
Ghadah H Alshehri1, Leena I Al Awn2, Salma M Aldossari2
1Department of Pharmacy Practice, College of Pharmacy, Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University, Riyadh 11671, Saudi Arabia.
Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland)
|November 13, 2025
Summary
Medication errors involving antipsychotics are common in Saudi Arabian hospitals, particularly during prescribing. Addressing prescribing practices and workflow issues can help reduce these medication errors.
Area of Science:
- Pharmacovigilance
- Medication Safety
- Health Services Research
Background:
- Medication errors (MEs) are a significant concern in healthcare systems globally.
- Antipsychotic medications are frequently associated with MEs due to their complex dosing and side effect profiles.
- Understanding ME patterns is crucial for improving patient safety in psychiatric care.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the patterns and characteristics of medication errors associated with antipsychotic use in Ministry of Health (MOH) hospitals in Saudi Arabia.
- To identify specific factors contributing to unsafe antipsychotic use.
- To pinpoint areas for improvement in medication safety protocols.
Main Methods:
- A retrospective descriptive analysis of MEs related to antipsychotics was performed.
- Data were collected from MOH-affiliated hospitals in Saudi Arabia between April 2020 and September 2022.
- Descriptive statistics were used to analyze error patterns, patient demographics, and contributing factors.
Main Results:
- Over 35,000 MEs were reported, with the Western region showing the highest error percentage.
- Most MEs occurred in adult males and originated during the prescribing stage, often due to missing prescription information.
- Atypical antipsychotics were involved in the majority of errors, and most errors did not reach the patient (Category B).
Conclusions:
- Medication errors involving antipsychotics are prevalent in Saudi Arabian hospitals.
- Prescribing stage errors and issues related to staffing, workflow, and policy gaps are key contributors.
- Targeted interventions focusing on prescribing practices and operational factors are needed to enhance antipsychotic medication safety.
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