A review of the effectiveness of interventions to reduce medication errors among older adults in Singapore

Abstract

Background: Medication errors (MEs) can lead to adverse effects and mortality, especially in older adults, due to physiological changes and accumulated multi-morbidities associated with ageing. Hence, interventions to reduce MEs among older adults are important and examining their effects will provide us with the impetus to improve upon current local measures to further reduce MEs. Objectives: To review the effectiveness of the interventions that have been implemented locally to reduce MEs. Methods: Using chosen keywords, searches were conducted in Pubmed and Google scholar. Based on their abstract, relevant articles were chosen from all retrieved articles that were published in English. Relevant online resources and other journal articles referenced in the chosen articles were also referenced in writing this narrative review. Results and Conclusion: Although MEs occur globally, studies examining the prevalence of MEs within Asia are lacking and the impact of various local interventions to reduce MEs is also poorly understood. Electronic prescribing, a national electronic health records repository, education in geriatric pharmacotherapy, a more centralised pharmacist’s role and the use of prescribing assessment tools are local interventions whose effectiveness in reducing MEs are supported, instead, by overseas studies examining such similar interventions. Locally, more studies are needed to examine the effectiveness of interventions in reducing MEs in various settings.