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. 2015 Sep 4;10(9):e0136545. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0136545

Table 2. Characteristics of the included studies.

Studies done on administration error
# Setting Methodology Study duration Population Sample Results Total number of erroneous administrations Reference
1 Malaysia (Paediatric ward of a teaching hospital) Direct observational study 10 days over 10 weeks 50 patients age less than 16 years old; admitted to the pediatric ward 857 administrations Incorrect dose form: 2% Incorrect time: 30% Incorrect technique: 9% Unauthorized drug: 7% Omission error: 17% due to out of stock Incorrect dose: 12% Incorrect preparation: 27% 11.7% (100 of the 857 administrations observed) [12]
2 Malaysia (tertiary care hospital) Prospective observational study 3 months Patients hospitalized in all 24 wards of the hospital 349 IV drugs which were prepared and administered by the staff nurses to the patients. Wrong time: 42.1% Wrong technique: 19.5% Wrong administration rate: 85.1% 88.6% (302 of the 349 administrations observed) [13]
3 Malaysia (haematology ward of a teaching hospital in Malaysia) Prospective study that involved direct, undisguised observations of drug administrations 15 days Patients hospitalized in the heamatology ward of the hospital 1118 total opportunities for error Incorrect drug: 0.7% Extra dose: 2.2% Administration of expired medications: 2.2% Incorrect rate: 5.9% Omission: 10.4% Incorrect dose: 10.4% Incorrect drug preparation: 10.4% Unauthorized drug: 14.1% Incorrect technique: 16.3% Incorrect time: 25.2% 11.4% (127 of the 1118 administrations observed) [14]
4 Singapore (public sector and private practice anaesthesiologists in Singapore) Survey 1 month 174 anaesthetists, trainees and specialists in public institutions or in private practice 350 survey forms Misidentification of the ampoule: 53% Misidentification of syringes: 45% 45.4% (159 of the 350 errors/near misses reported) [15]
5 Singapore (two acute care hospitals) Descriptive, prospective design 12 weeks 140 registered full time nurses 21043 opportunity for error (doses given or doses orders but omitted) An opportunity for error included any dose given plus doses ordered to be given but omitted Of the 140 participants, only 10% (14/140) were not observed to encounter any distractions during medication administration, while 90% (126/140) were distracted during the observations 45.4% (5024 out of the 21043 opportunities for error) [16]
6 Vietnam (2 public hospitals) Direct observational study 7 days Diabetic patients in ward 229 insulin doses (204 subcutaneous and 25 infusions) Delayed dose: 10.4% Early dose: 7.4% Administration technique error: 3.1% Omission: 2.6% 28.8% (66 of the 229 insulin doses) [17]
7 Vietnam (6 wards in 2 urban public hospitals) Prospective observational 3 months 5271 doses administered Wrong administration technique: 23.5% Wrong preparation technique: 15.7% Omission: 2.3% Wrong dose: 1.8% 39.1% [18]
8 Indonesia-Bali (Geriatric ward in a public teaching hospital) Prospective study 20 weeks Geriatrics (>60 years old) patients in ward 7662 doses Administration errors: 59% 20.4% (1,563 medication errors of 7,662 drug doses reviewed) [19]
9 Philippines (University-based tertiary hospital) Questionnaire Junior and senior nursing students who routinely administer medications within a university-based tertiary hospital 329 questionnaires Missed dose: 41.94% Wrong time: 40.32% 18.8% (63 out of the 329 respondents) [20]
10 Thailand (7 university hospitals, 5 tertiary care hospitals, 4 secondary care hospitals, 4 primary care hospitals) Prospective data collection 18 months Patients anaesthetized in 20 participating hospitals in Thailand 202699 anaesthesia cases Wrong drug: 48.8% Incorrect dose: 29.3% 0.02% (41 of the 202699 cases) [21]
11 Thailand (Queen Sirikit National Institute of Child Health) Retrospective study (screening medication errors documents and reports) 15 months Medical records from September 2001 to November 2002 Medication errors in ward documented in standard reporting forms based on the 32106 admissions Administration error: 15.22% Wrong time: 2.17% Omission 1.24% Wrong strength: 1.86% Unauthorized drug: 0% Wrong patient: 2.48% Extra dose: 3.73% Wrong dose form: 3.73% 1% (322 of the 32105 admissions medical report) [22]
Studies done on dispensing error
1 Indonesia-Bali (Geriatric ward in a public teaching hospital) Prospective study 20 weeks Geriatrics (>60 years old) in ward 7662 doses Dispensing errors: 14% Omission: 39.6% 20.4% (1,563 medication errors of 7,662 drug doses reviewed) [19]
2 Thailand (Queen Sirikit National Institute of child health) Retrospective study (screening ME documents and reports) 15 months Medical records from September 2001 to November 2002 32105 Dispensing: 34.78% 1% (322 errors of the 32105 admissions) [22]
Studies done on prescribing error
1 Malaysia (outpatient pharmacy in a teaching hospital in Kelantan) Retrospective study. (screening prescriptions) 1 month Geriatrics at the outpatient pharmacy  1601 prescriptions for geriatrics Pharmaceutical (stability, ingredient, technique): 0.99% Clinical errors (dose,frequency, interaction,allergy): 8.68% 25.15% (403 of the 1602 prescriptions) [23]
2 Indonesia (Geriatric ward in a public teaching hospital in Bali) Prospective study 20 weeks Inpatient geriatrics (>60 years old) 7662 doses Prescribing errors: 7% 20.4% (1,563 of the 7,662 drug doses reviewed) [19]
3 Singapore (Paediatric unit in a university teaching hospital) Prospective cohort study 4 months Children (<16 years of age) at the outpatient clinic, emergency department and at discharge from the inpatient service  4274 paediatric prescriptions Under-dose: 64% No frequency specified: 21%Overdose: 8% 19.5% (833 of the 4274 prescription screened) [24]
4 Thailand (Queen Sirikit National Institute of child health) Retrospective study (screening ME docs and reports) 15 months Medical records from September 2001 to November 2002 32105 Prescription error: 35.4% Wrong dose: 25.78% Wrong choice: 3.73% Known allergy: 0.62% 1% (322/32,105 admissions) [22]
Studies done on transcribing error
1 Malaysia (outpatient pharmacy in a teaching hospital (HUSM) in Kelantan) Retrospective study. (screening prescriptions) 1 month Geriatrics at the outpatient pharmacy  1601 prescriptions for geriatrics Miswriting patient particulars: 70.22% 25.15% (403/1602 prescriptions) [23]
2 Indonesia (Geriatric ward in a public teaching hospital in Bali) Prospective study 20 weeks 7662 doses Transcription errors: 15% 20.4% (1,563/ 7,662 drug doses reviewed) [19]
Studies done on preparation error
1 Malaysia (tertiary care hospital) Prospective observational study 3 months Patients hospitalized in all 24 wards of the hospital 349 IV drugs prepared and administered by nurses Preparation errors: 32.8% Wrong amount of diluents: 54.5% 88.6% (302 of the 349 administrations observed) [13]
2 Vietnam (Two large public hospitals in Vietnam) Direct observational study 7 days Diabetic patients admitted in wards 229 insulin doses (204 subcutaneous and 25 infusions) Incorrect preparation technique: 22.7% 28.8% (66 of the 229 insulin doses) [17]
3 Vietnam (two urban public hospitals in Vietnam) Prospective observational 3 months 6 wards 5271 oral and IV doses administered Wrong preparation technique: 15.7% 39.1% (2060 of the 5271 administration) [18]
Studies done on reconciliation error
1 Singapore (Tan Tock Seng Hospital) Descriptive NA 5100 patients admitted Reconciliation forms created by pharmacy staff for each patient admitted Transcription error: 36.5% Prescribers missing out medications from their list: 61.65% Wrong or incomplete regimen: 25.4% 18.13% (925 of the 5100 patients admitted) [25]