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BACKGROUND: Medication errors significantly compromise patient safety in emergency departments. Although previous studies have investigated the prevalence of these errors in this setting, results have varied widely. AIM: The aim was to report pooled data on the prevalence and severity of medication errors in emergency departments, as well as the proportion of patients affected by these errors. METHOD: Systematic searches were conducted in Embase, PubMed, and the Cochrane Library from database inception until June 2023. Studies provided numerical data on medication errors within emergency departments were eligible for inclusion. Random-effects meta-analysis was employed to pool the prevalence of medication errors, the proportion of patients experiencing these errors, and the error severity levels. Heterogeneity among studies was assessed using the I2 statistic and Cochran's Q test. RESULTS: Twenty-four studies met the inclusion criteria. The meta-analysis gave a pooled prevalence of medication errors in emergency departments of 22.6% (95% Confidence Interval [CI] 19.2-25.9%, I2 = 99.9%, p < 0.001). The estimated proportion of patients experiencing medication errors was 36.3% (95% CI 28.3-44.3%, I2 = 99.8%, p < 0.001). Of these errors, 42.6% (95% CI 5.0-80.1%) were potentially harmful but not life-threatening, while no-harm errors accounted for 57.3% (95% CI 14.1-100.0%). CONCLUSION: The prevalence of medication errors, particularly those potentially harmful, underscores potential safety issues in emergency departments. It is imperative to develop and implement effective interventions aimed at reducing medication errors and enhancing patient safety in this setting.
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Introduction: Breast cancer remains one of the major cancers worldwide. In Asia, breast cancer is leading both incidence and mortality rates. Health-related quality of life (HRQoL) studies play an important role in clinical treatment. This systematic review aimed to summarize the evidence of HRQoL and associated factors among patients with breast cancer in low-and-middle-income countries (LMICs) in Asia. Method: Performed according to PRISMA guidelines for systematic review, the studies were searched from three databases (PubMed, Cochrane, Scopus) up to November 2020. The studies which met the predefined eligibility criteria were selected, extracted, and assessed the quality according to the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS) tool. Results and Discussion: A total of 2,620 studies were searched on the three databases, of which 28 met the selection criteria, then, were included in the systematic review. The Global Health Status (GHS) score of breast cancer patients based on the EORTC QLQ-C30 questionnaire ranged from 56.32 ± 25.42 to 72.48 ± 15.68. The overall HRQoL scores using the FACT-G and FACT-B instruments ranged from 60.78 ± 13.27 to 82.23 ± 12.55 and from 70.29 ± 13.33 to 108.48 ± 19.82, respectively. Factors affecting HRQoL of patients with breast cancer included age, education level, income, marital status, lifestyle, tumor stage, method, and treatment duration. Patient's income showed a consistent effect on HRQoL while the remaining factors reported inconsistent findings across the studies. In conclusion, the HRQoL of breast cancer patients in LMICs in Asia was low and affected by several sociodemographic factors which should be studied more in future research.
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The continued proliferation of superbugs in hospitals and the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has created an acute worldwide demand for sustained broadband pathogen suppression in households, hospitals, and public spaces. In response, we have created a highly active, self-sterilizing copper configuration capable of inactivating a wide range of bacteria and viruses in 30-60 seconds. The highly active material destroys pathogens faster than any conventional copper configuration and acts as quickly as alcohol wipes and hand sanitizers. Unlike the latter, our copper material does not release volatile compounds or leave harmful chemical residues and maintains its antimicrobial efficacy over sustained use; it is shelf stable for years. We have performed rigorous testing in accordance with guidelines from U.S. regulatory agencies and believe that the material could offer broad spectrum, non-selective defense against most microbes via integration into masks, protective equipment, and various forms of surface coatings.
