title: Investigating the epidemiology of medication errors and error-related adverse drug events (ADEs) in primary care, ambulatory care and home settings: a systematic review protocol.
abstract: There is a need to better understand the epidemiology of medication errors and error-related adverse events in community care contexts.
  
  
  
  We will systematically search the following databases: Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), EMBASE, Eastern Mediterranean Regional Office of the WHO (EMRO), MEDLINE, PsycINFO and Web of Science. In addition, we will search Google Scholar and contact an international panel of experts to search for unpublished and in progress work. The searches will cover the time period January 1990-December 2015 and will yield data on the incidence or prevalence of and risk factors for medication errors and error-related adverse drug events in adults living in community settings (ie, primary care, ambulatory and home). Study quality will be assessed using the Critical Appraisal Skills Program quality assessment tool for cohort and case-control studies, and cross-sectional studies will be assessed using the Joanna Briggs Institute Critical Appraisal Checklist for Descriptive Studies. Meta-analyses will be undertaken using random-effects modelling using STATA (V.14) statistical software.
  
  
  
  This protocol will be registered with PROSPERO, an international prospective register of systematic reviews, and the systematic review will be reported in the peer-reviewed literature using Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses.
authors: Centre for Population Health Sciences, Usher Institute of Population Health Sciences and Informatics, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK King Saud University, College of Pharmacy, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
authors: Ghadah Asaad
authors: GA
authors: Assiri
authors: Centre for Population Health Sciences, Usher Institute of Population Health Sciences and Informatics, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.
authors: Liz
authors: L
authors: Grant
authors: King Saud University, College of Pharmacy, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
authors: Hisham
authors: H
authors: Aljadhey
authors: Centre of Medical Informatics, Usher Institute of Population Health Sciences and Informatics, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.
authors: Aziz
authors: A
authors: Sheikh
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000553:Ambulatory Care / Q000592:standards*; D064420:Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D006699:Home Care Services / Q000592:standards*; D006801:Humans; D008508:Medication Errors / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000592:standards*; D012107:Research Design; D000078202:Systematic Reviews as Topic; D015201:Meta-Analysis as Topic
keywords: Adverse drug event; Drug related problem; EPIDEMIOLOGY; Home setting; Medication error; PRIMARY CARE