Authors
- Nicole Heneka1,
- Jane Phillips2,
- Tim Shaw3,
- Debra Rowett4
- University of Notre Dame1,
- University of Technology Sydney (UTS)2,
- The University of Sydney3,
- Repatriation General Hospital, Adelaide4
2015
Excerpt
Background: Opioids are high risk medicines used routinely in palliative care settings to manage cancer pain and other symptoms at the end of life. Opioids are often implicated in medication errors causing patient harm, yet little is known about the scope and impact of opioid errors in adult palliative care and oncology settings.
Aim: To identify the incidence, types and impact of opioid medication errors in adult palliative care and oncology settings reported in the peer reviewed literature.
Methods: A systematic review was undertaken from 1980 to 2014. Empirical studies, published in English, reporting data on opioid medication error incidence, types or patient impact, in adult palliative care and/or oncology services were included.
Results: Of 133 potential studies, five studies were included in the review. Opioid error incidence was difficult to determine as each study focused on a single narrow area of error. Prescribing strategy errors were reported in 81% of patients, making this the predominant opioid error type. Of note, patient harm resulting from opioid errors was not reported in any of the included studies.
Conclusions: Opioid error incidence reporting, error types, other than prescribing strategy, and patient impact of opioid errors in palliative care and oncology settings are under-explored areas of patient safety. Defining, identifying and quantifying error reporting practices in these settings will benefit future quality and safety initiatives.
Aim: To identify the incidence, types and impact of opioid medication errors in adult palliative care and oncology settings reported in the peer reviewed literature.
Methods: A systematic review was undertaken from 1980 to 2014. Empirical studies, published in English, reporting data on opioid medication error incidence, types or patient impact, in adult palliative care and/or oncology services were included.
Results: Of 133 potential studies, five studies were included in the review. Opioid error incidence was difficult to determine as each study focused on a single narrow area of error. Prescribing strategy errors were reported in 81% of patients, making this the predominant opioid error type. Of note, patient harm resulting from opioid errors was not reported in any of the included studies.
Conclusions: Opioid error incidence reporting, error types, other than prescribing strategy, and patient impact of opioid errors in palliative care and oncology settings are under-explored areas of patient safety. Defining, identifying and quantifying error reporting practices in these settings will benefit future quality and safety initiatives.