Medication safety and harm: A narrative review of drug-related errors and adverse outcomes

• Author Details:   
• Mohammed. Sheeba Kauser
• A. L. Prasanna Reddy Syamala ^*
• V. Maha Lakshmi
• SG Sneha

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Background: Medication errors and adverse drug events (ADEs) represent significant threats to patient safety and healthcare quality worldwide. These events contribute to increased morbidity, mortality, and healthcare costs, particularly in vulnerable populations such as the elderly and critically ill. Despite advances in clinical practice and health information technology, drug-related errors remain a persistent challenge.

Objective: This narrative review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of drug-related errors and adverse drug events, examining their types, causes, impacts, and current prevention strategies. It further explores systemic and individual-level factors contributing to medication-related harm and outlines potential directions for improving medication safety in clinical settings.

Materials and Methods: A structured literature search was conducted using databases including PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar. Peer-reviewed articles, reports, and guidelines published in English between 2000 and 2024 were included. Data were synthesized narratively to identify key themes and patterns in the literature.

Results: The review identifies prescribing, dispensing, administration, and monitoring errors as common contributors to drug-related harm. Key risk factors include polypharmacy, communication breakdowns, inadequate training, and system inefficiencies. Technological interventions, such as computerized physician order entry (CPOE) and clinical decision support systems (CDSS), have shown promise but require proper implementation and clinician engagement to be effective.

Conclusion: Drug-related errors and ADEs remain a critical concern in healthcare delivery. A multifaceted approach—combining technology, education, system redesign, and policy reform—is essential to mitigate risks and enhance medication safety. Further research is needed to optimize interventions and adapt them across diverse healthcare settings.