Signposting the causes of medication errors

Abstract

Background: Medication errors are a universal problem, but the causes and solutions are uncertain.

Aim: This commentary contextualizes an important paper describing the medication error problem in one hospital in Iran.

Evaluation: Medication errors may be an important link between poor employment conditions for nurses and less favourable patient outcomes.

Implications: This paper, taken with other observational work, suggests that intervention studies to test strategies to reduce medication errors may be key to improving patient outcomes.