title: A systematic review of patient medication error on self-administering medication at home.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Medication errors have been analyzed as a health professionals' responsibility (due to mistakes in prescription, preparation or dispensing). However, sometimes, patients themselves (or their caregivers) make mistakes in the administration of the medication. The epidemiology of patient medication errors (PEs) has been scarcely reviewed in spite of its impact on people, on therapeutic effectiveness and on incremental cost for the health systems.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study reviews and describes the methodological approaches and results of published studies on the frequency, causes and consequences of medication errors committed by patients at home. A review of research articles published between 1990 and 2014 was carried out using MEDLINE, Web-of-Knowledge, Scopus, Tripdatabase and Index Medicus.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The frequency of PE was situated between 19 and 59%. The elderly and the preschooler population constituted a higher number of mistakes than others. The most common were: incorrect dosage, forgetting, mixing up medications, failing to recall indications and taking out-of-date or inappropriately stored drugs. The majority of these mistakes have no negative consequences. Health literacy, information and communication and complexity of use of dispensing devices were identified as causes of PEs. Apps and other new technologies offer several opportunities for improving drug safety.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Salud Alicante-Sant Joan d'Alacant , Alicante , Spain.
authors.forename: José Joaquín
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Mira
authors.forename: Susana
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lorenzo
authors.forename: Mercedes
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Guilabert
authors.forename: Isabel
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Navarro
authors.forename: Virtudes
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Pérez-Jover
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003142:Communication; D057220:Health Literacy / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008508:Medication Errors / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D012646:Self Administration / Q000592:standards* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
chemical_list: D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations
keywords: medication errors; patient participation; patient safety; physician-patient relations; self-medication