What does this research mean for the field?

More than half (54%) of hospitalized pediatric patients worldwide experience at least one medication error, with the risk significantly increased by intravenous administration, prolonged hospital stays, and polypharmacy. Novelty: ClaimNovelty.SYNTHESIS. Consensus alignment: ConsensusAlignment.NEUTRAL.

What question did this study set out to answer?

To estimate the global prevalence of medication errors among pediatric inpatients and identify key risk factors contributing to their occurrence.

August 29, 2026JMIR Pediatrics and ParentingOpen Access

Global Prevalence and Associated Factors of Medication Errors in Hospitalized Pediatric Patients: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

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Authors

XCXiuwen ChenCentral South University YMYuan MengWannan Medical College XWXueyi WeiCentral South University

Discussion

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Implication

Systematic review and meta-analysis reveals over half of hospitalized children experience medication errors, highlighting intravenous delivery and polypharmacy as critical risk factors.

Key Points

To estimate the global prevalence of medication errors among pediatric inpatients and identify key risk factors contributing to their occurrence.
Systematic search of Embase, MEDLINE, Web of Science, PubMed, and Cochrane Library from inception to June 2025 following PRISMA guidelines.
Included observational studies of hospitalized pediatric patients under 18 years across 61 studies and 29 countries or regions.
Pooled prevalence and risk factor data using a DerSimonian-Laird random-effects model, with subgroup and sensitivity analyses.
The pooled prescribing error rate was 28%, the administration error rate was 32%, and 54% of hospitalized pediatric patients experienced at least one medication error.
Prescribing errors were most common in lower-middle-income countries (44%), intensive care units (34%), and antibiotic orders (30%), whereas administration error rates reached 71% in low-income countries.
Medication errors were significantly associated with intravenous administration (OR 6.86, 95% CI 3.17–14.83), hospital stays longer than 5 days (OR 1.94, 95% CI 1.33–2.81), and prescription of 3 or more medications (OR 2.12, 95% CI 1.66–2.70).

Cite This Study

Chen et al. (2026) studied this question.

synapsesocial.com/papers/6a9299338e5d7d1fc0c10f40 https://doi.org/10.2196/100070

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August 29, 2026JMIR Pediatrics and ParentingOpen Access

Global Prevalence and Associated Factors of Medication Errors in Hospitalized Pediatric Patients: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

View Full Paper

Ask AI

Bookmark

Authors

XCXiuwen ChenCentral South University YMYuan MengWannan Medical College XWXueyi WeiCentral South University

Discussion

Member takes

Implication

Systematic review and meta-analysis reveals over half of hospitalized children experience medication errors, highlighting intravenous delivery and polypharmacy as critical risk factors.

Key Points

To estimate the global prevalence of medication errors among pediatric inpatients and identify key risk factors contributing to their occurrence.
Systematic search of Embase, MEDLINE, Web of Science, PubMed, and Cochrane Library from inception to June 2025 following PRISMA guidelines.
Included observational studies of hospitalized pediatric patients under 18 years across 61 studies and 29 countries or regions.
Pooled prevalence and risk factor data using a DerSimonian-Laird random-effects model, with subgroup and sensitivity analyses.
The pooled prescribing error rate was 28%, the administration error rate was 32%, and 54% of hospitalized pediatric patients experienced at least one medication error.
Prescribing errors were most common in lower-middle-income countries (44%), intensive care units (34%), and antibiotic orders (30%), whereas administration error rates reached 71% in low-income countries.
Medication errors were significantly associated with intravenous administration (OR 6.86, 95% CI 3.17–14.83), hospital stays longer than 5 days (OR 1.94, 95% CI 1.33–2.81), and prescription of 3 or more medications (OR 2.12, 95% CI 1.66–2.70).

Cite This Study

Chen et al. (2026) studied this question.

synapsesocial.com/papers/6a9299338e5d7d1fc0c10f40 https://doi.org/10.2196/100070

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