MEDICATION ERRORS IN PATIENT HEALTHCARE: A COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW
Archana M.*, Shalini S., Sakthi Priya G., Vishwanathan A., Sakthi Priya P., Dr. Sathish A.
Medication errors are a major concern in primary healthcare, where most patients first receive medical attention. These errors can occur at different stages, including prescribing, dispensing, and administration of medicines. Common causes include lack of proper knowledge, heavy workload, poor communication, and limited resources. Such errors may lead to ineffective treatment, adverse drug reactions, increased healthcare costs, and harm to patients. This review and study aims to understand the types, causes, and impact of medication errors in primary healthcare settings. It also highlights the challenges faced by healthcare professionals in preventing these errors. Various studies show that prescribing errors are the most common, followed by dispensing and administration errors. Inadequate patient counselling and incomplete medical records further increase the risk. The review emphasizes the importance of improving awareness, training, and communication among healthcare providers. Simple strategies such as clear prescription writing, use of standard guidelines, patient education, and digital record systems can help reduce errors. Strengthening primary healthcare systems and promoting a culture of patient safety are essential steps toward minimizing medication errors and improving overall healthcare quality.
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