Table 6 Summary of the types of errors identified

Carruthers 2008 [32]

RCT

Omission of a medicine

99/297 (33.3 %)

Supplying a medicine discontinued by the general practitioner

37/297 (12.5 %)

Wrong strength

32/297 (10.8 %)

Incorrect instructions

32/297 (10.8 %)

Failure to deliver medicines

13/297 (4.4 %)

Wrong medicine

12.297 (4.0 %)

Wrong label

7/297 (2.4 %)

Other/Unknown

65/297 (21.9 %)

General practitioner error

79/297 (26.6 %)

Pharmacy error

125/297 (42.1 %)

Not attributable

93/297 (31.3 %)

Roberts 2004 [18]

Cross-section, audit

Missing tablets

75/190 (39.5 %)

Extra tablets

46/190 (24.2 %)

Tablet in wrong position

23/190 (12.1 %)

Medication changes not made

17/190 (8.9 %)

Labels incorrect

9/190 (4.7 %)

Wrong tablet

7/190 (3.7 %)

Pack/sachet/drug damaged

6/190 (3.2 %)

Special medications not packed correctly/packed when should not be

4/190 (2.1 %)

Authority script required

2/190 (1.1 %)

Wrong colour card

1/190 (0.5 %)