Evidence map›Paper›PMID 33153451›Full record

SynthesisBMC medicine2020

Preventable medication harm across health care settings: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Alexander Hodkinson, Natasha Tyler, Darren M Ashcroft, Richard N Keers, Kanza Khan, Denham Phipps, Aseel Abuzour, Peter Bower, Anthony Avery, Stephen Campbell and 1 more

Abstract readMeta-AnalysisSystematic Review
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Synthesis in BMC medicine, 2020. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 139 papers, 10 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
139citing papers in PubMed, 10 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

139 citing papers in PubMed, 10 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.

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  17. Therapeutic Medication Errors in the Non-Healthcare Facility Setting Associated with Hospital Admission, 2000-2024.Journal of medical toxicology : official journal of the American College of Medical Toxicology · 2026
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79 more citing papers are in PubMed but not listed here.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

11 authors.

Alexander HodkinsonNational Institute for Health Research School for Primary Care Research, Centre for Primary Care and Health Services Research, Division of Population Health, Health Services Research and Primary Care, School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Williamson Building, Oxford Road, Manchester, M13 9PL, UK. alexander.hodkinson@manchester.ac.uk.
Natasha TylerNational Institute for Health Research School for Primary Care Research, Centre for Primary Care and Health Services Research, Division of Population Health, Health Services Research and Primary Care, School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Williamson Building, Oxford Road, Manchester, M13 9PL, UK.
Darren M AshcroftNational Institute for HealthResearch Greater Manchester Patient Safety Translational Research Centre, School of Health Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester, M13 9PL, UK.
Richard N KeersCentre for Pharmacoepidemiology and Drug Safety, Division of Pharmacy and Optometry, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK.
Kanza KhanNational Institute for Health Research School for Primary Care Research, Centre for Primary Care and Health Services Research, Division of Population Health, Health Services Research and Primary Care, School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Williamson Building, Oxford Road, Manchester, M13 9PL, UK.
Denham PhippsCentre for Pharmacoepidemiology and Drug Safety, Division of Pharmacy and Optometry, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK.
Aseel AbuzourCentre for Pharmacoepidemiology and Drug Safety, Division of Pharmacy and Optometry, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK.
Peter BowerNational Institute for Health Research School for Primary Care Research, Centre for Primary Care and Health Services Research, Division of Population Health, Health Services Research and Primary Care, School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Williamson Building, Oxford Road, Manchester, M13 9PL, UK.
Anthony AveryDivision of Primary Care, School of Medicine, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, NG7 2RD, UK.
Stephen CampbellNational Institute for HealthResearch Greater Manchester Patient Safety Translational Research Centre, School of Health Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester, M13 9PL, UK.
Maria PanagiotiNational Institute for Health Research School for Primary Care Research, Centre for Primary Care and Health Services Research, Division of Population Health, Health Services Research and Primary Care, School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Williamson Building, Oxford Road, Manchester, M13 9PL, UK.

Funding

General Medical Council RMS 113361NIHR Greater Manchester Patient Safety Translational Research Centre GMPSTRC-2012-1
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundMitigating or reducing the risk of medication harm is a global policy priority. But evidence reflecting preventable medication harm in medical care and the factors that derive this harm remain unknown. Therefore, we aimed to quantify the prevalence, severity and type of preventable medication harm across medical care settings.

methodsWe performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies to compare the prevalence of preventable medication harm. Searches were carried out in Medline, Cochrane library, CINAHL, Embase and PsycINFO from 2000 to 27 January 2020. Data extraction and critical appraisal was undertaken by two independent reviewers. Random-effects meta-analysis was employed followed by univariable and multivariable meta-regression. Heterogeneity was quantified using the I PROSPERO: CRD42020164156.

resultsOf the 7780 articles, 81 studies involving 285,687 patients were included. The pooled prevalence for preventable medication harm was 3% (95% confidence interval (CI) 2 to 4%, I

conclusionsThis is the largest meta-analysis to assess preventable medication harm. We conclude that around one in 30 patients are exposed to preventable medication harm in medical care, and more than a quarter of this harm is considered severe or life-threatening. Our results support the World Health Organisation's push for the detection and mitigation of medication-related harm as being a top priority, whilst highlighting other key potential targets for remedial intervention that should be a priority focus for future research.

Indexed as

Delivery of Health CareDrug MonitoringDrug-Related Side Effects and Adverse ReactionsHumansPatient SafetyPrevalenceMedication errorMeta-analysisPatient safetyPrevalencePreventable medication harm

Identifiers

PMID33153451
PMCPMC7646069

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.