Analysis of the nature and contributory factors of medication safety incidents following hospital discharge using National Reporting and Learning System (NRLS) data from England and Wales: a multi-method study (16 March 2023)

Summary

Improving medication safety during transitions of care is an international healthcare priority. While existing research reveals that medication-related incidents and associated harms may be common following hospital discharge, there is limited information about their nature and contributory factors at a national level which is crucial to inform improvement strategy.

This study in the journal Therapeutic Advances in Drug Safety aimed to characterise the nature and contributory factors of medication-related incidents during transitions of care from secondary to primary care. The authors found several themes for future research that could support the development of interventions, including:

• commonly observed medication classes
• older adults
• increase patient engagements
• improve shared care agreements for medication monitoring post hospital discharge.