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. 2025 Dec;13(6):e70204.
doi: 10.1002/prp2.70204.

Closing the Numeracy Gap in Medication Safety: Impact of a safeMedicate Intervention in Undergraduate Medical Education

Soban Sadiq  1 , Susan Driver  1 , Manfred Gschwandtner  1
Affiliations

Closing the Numeracy Gap in Medication Safety: Impact of a safeMedicate Intervention in Undergraduate Medical Education

Soban Sadiq et al. Pharmacol Res Perspect. 2025 Dec.

Abstract

Medication errors, often linked to inadequate numeracy skills, pose significant risks to patient safety. To address this, Kent and Medway Medical School (KMMS) became the first UK medical school to integrate safeMedicate, a validated e-learning platform, into its Year 1 undergraduate medical curriculum. This study aimed to evaluate its impact on student engagement, numeracy competence, and confidence. The entire cohort of 111 first-year medical students (2024 intake) was introduced to the safeMedicate Essential Skills module within the Year 1 module titled Professional Development and Person-Centred Practice. Engagement was assessed via platform analytics (logins, time, completion), numeracy competence through a formative online test, and perceptions via an anonymous survey. Engagement was high, with students averaging 9.1 logins and 124.2 min on the platform. Completion rates were near universal (95%). The average test score was 85.4%, with 75% of students achieving ≥ 85%. Competency analysis showed strong performance in conceptual, calculation, and technical measurement skills. Survey responses indicated that 89% found safeMedicate helpful for test preparation and 83% reported increased confidence in numeracy. Students valued the clarity, usability, and practice-based learning approach. Early integration of safeMedicate demonstrated improved engagement, numeracy performance, and student confidence. Although limited to one institution and formative assessment, findings support continued use of structured digital tools to strengthen medication safety education. Embedding safeMedicate into undergraduate curricula may reduce prescribing errors and better prepare future doctors for safe clinical practice.

Keywords: safeMedicate; calculation; essential modules; numeracy; patient safety.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

Figures

FIGURE 1
FIGURE 1
Average completion scores across the different components of the Essential Skills module.
FIGURE 2
FIGURE 2
Distribution of total percentage scores.
FIGURE 3
FIGURE 3
Average score by competency component.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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