Medication Errors in Primary Healthcare: A Systematic Review of Their Causes, Prevention, and Impact on Patient Safety.

Medication errors and adverse drug reactions (ADRs) remain major patient safety concerns in primary healthcare settings worldwide, contributing substantially to preventable morbidity, mortality, and healthcare costs. This systematic review synthesized evidence regarding the prevalence, causes, prevention strategies, and impacts of medication errors in primary care. A comprehensive search of PubMed, EMBASE, CINAHL, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science was conducted for studies published between 2013 and 2024. Eligible studies included randomized controlled trials, observational studies, qualitative studies, and systematic reviews with meta-analyses focusing on medication safety in primary healthcare settings. Thirteen studies involving more than 1.7 million participants were included. Medication errors were highly prevalent, particularly among older adults, patients with chronic diseases, and individuals exposed to polypharmacy. Common medication-related problems included inappropriate dosing, prescribing errors, ADRs, and drug interactions. Communication failures, insufficient medication reconciliation, lack of provider training, and systemic healthcare barriers were frequently identified contributing factors. Preventable adverse drug events were associated with significant clinical and economic burdens, including increased hospitalizations and healthcare costs. While professional and organizational interventions demonstrated variable effectiveness, pharmacist-led medication reviews and clinical pharmacy services consistently improved medication safety outcomes and reduced prescription-related costs. However, the certainty of this evidence is limited by heterogeneity in study designs, settings, and outcome definitions and the moderate methodological quality of several included studies. The findings emphasize that medication errors in primary care remain a significant global health challenge requiring multifaceted interventions focused on communication, education, standardized protocols, clinical pharmacy integration, and patient-centered approaches to improve medication safety and healthcare quality.