Document Type : Original Article
Authors
Abstract
Medication errors (MEs) are a critical worldwide concern and can cause genuine clinical ramifications
for patients. Studies concerning such errors have not been undertaken as much in the Middle
Eastern region. The aim of this study was to systematically review and identify studies done in the
Middle Eastern nations to recognize the principle contributory factors included and to estimate the
prevalence in the region. A review of the retrospective, prospective, cohort, and case–control studies
based on MEs in the Middle Eastern nations was directed in January 2020 utilizing the accompanying
databases: Embase, Medline, PubMed, Ebsco, Cochrane, Scopus, and Prospero. The search
methodology incorporated all ages and in English only dating back to 2010. The search methodology
included articles about MEs in the Middle East with errors in people of all ages, articles in English,
and articles dating back to 2010. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and MetaAnalyses appraisal instrument was used to assess the quality of the included articles. Individual
data extraction, pooled analysis, and the accompanying databases were used for data analysis of
the MEs in eligible studies. Fifteen of the 18 articles reviewed from four Middle Eastern countries
had low risk of bias, while three out of 18 had medium risk of bias. A total of 58,221 reported people
were studied, with a total of 34,730.9 reported MEs. The pooled analysis showed that numbers of
errors were mainly prescribing errors (n = 22,715.25), general prescription errors (n = 8097.16), and
commission errors (n = 158.2). Iran had the highest rate amid the reported administration errors, at
25.07% (599.11/2388.9). Measuring a patient’s clinical laboratory values was another less common
type of prescription ME. Lebanon reported to have the highest monitoring errors, with a rate of 13.13%
(277.91/2117). A negative trend was shown in the amount of MEs in the vast majority of the nations
under the examination. The under-reporting or uncertain information recommended that significan
changes are needed in the healthcare sector. There is solid need of literature on healthcare services
in the region to completely understand and address the MEs and issues.
Keywords
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