Prevalence and Types of Medication Errors in Intensive Care Unit Nurses in Iran: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Medication errors pose a significant threat to patient safety in healthcare settings. This study aimed to determine the prevalence and types of medication errors among intensive care unit (ICU) nurses in Iran through a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Electronic databases, including PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Science Direct, SID, and Magiran, were searched for studies on medication errors among ICU nurses up to February 2025. A manual search of references from primary and review studies was also conducted. Studies were limited to Persian and English languages. Bias assessment was performed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. Data analysis was conducted using Comprehensive Meta-Analysis software (version 3).

A total of 19 observational studies were selected and included in the study. The results of the meta-analysis showed that the prevalence of medication errors among intensive care unit nurses was 64.8% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.54-0.74, P<0.05). The prevalence of incorrect dosage, incorrect injection rate, incorrect time of administration, and incorrect medication were 15.6% (95% CI: 0.08-0.27, P<0.05), 18.5% (95% CI: 0.08-0.37, P<0.05), 11.8% (95% CI: 0.08-0.15, P<0.05), and 9.5% (95% CI: 0.05-0.16, P<0.05), respectively. Publication bias was not observed in the study (P=0.49).

The high prevalence of medication errors among ICU nurses in Iran highlights an urgent need for intervention. Proper nurse training, adoption of advanced technologies, improved working conditions, and enhanced communication can significantly reduce medication errors in hospitals.