Association Between Patient Race/Ethnicity, Health Literacy, Socio-Economic Status, and Incidence of Medication Errors: A Systematic Review

Kelly Suen; Sunil Shrestha; Samira Osman; Vibhu Paudyal

doi:10.1007/s40615-025-02407-8

Association Between Patient Race/Ethnicity, Health Literacy, Socio-Economic Status, and Incidence of Medication Errors: A Systematic Review

Kelly Suen, Sunil Shrestha, Samira Osman, Vibhu Paudyal^*

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

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Abstract

Introduction: Medication errors represent a significant source of healthcare-related harm, leading to mortality, morbidity, and substantial costs to health systems. Existing evidence highlights dissatisfaction and perceived discrimination experienced by patients from minority ethnic and disadvantaged backgrounds within healthcare settings. Objective: The study aimed to systematically review the literature on associations between patient race/ethnicity, socio-economic status, health literacy, and the incidence or patient experience of medication errors in healthcare and community (home) settings. Methods: A systematic review was conducted by searching an electronic database including EMBASE, MEDLINE, and PsycINFO. Studies published in English from January 2010 to October 2023, which explored the association between ethnicity, social disadvantage, and medication errors, were included. Results: Thirteen studies met the inclusion criteria from an initial identification of 2075 titles. Findings indicated that minority ethnic patients were more susceptible to prescription errors, undertreatment, administration errors, and suboptimal medication monitoring and follow-up by healthcare providers. Patients with low health literacy and limited English proficiency were also significantly likely to experience comprehension errors and medication discrepancies. Furthermore, ethnicity and social disadvantages were also associated with an increased risk of overdosing in pediatric medication administration, particularly among parents using dosing cups. Conclusion: Minority ethnic background, low socio-economic status, and low health literacy can risk a higher likelihood of patients experiencing medication errors. Increasing awareness of these disparities among healthcare staff is essential for developing targeted interventions to mitigate inequalities in patient experiences and care outcomes in relation to medication use and safety. Future research should investigate the importance of intersectionality, such as multiple social disadvantages in this context.

Original language	English
Article number	n71
Journal	Journal of Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1007/s40615-025-02407-8
Publication status	Published - 3 Apr 2025

Keywords

Ethnic minority patients
Health inequality
Health literacy
Medication errors
Socio-economic status

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

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R2 Manuscript-Clean Version 19March2025Accepted author manuscript, 137 KBLicence: CC BY
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Cite this

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title = "Association Between Patient Race/Ethnicity, Health Literacy, Socio-Economic Status, and Incidence of Medication Errors: A Systematic Review",

abstract = "Introduction: Medication errors represent a significant source of healthcare-related harm, leading to mortality, morbidity, and substantial costs to health systems. Existing evidence highlights dissatisfaction and perceived discrimination experienced by patients from minority ethnic and disadvantaged backgrounds within healthcare settings. Objective: The study aimed to systematically review the literature on associations between patient race/ethnicity, socio-economic status, health literacy, and the incidence or patient experience of medication errors in healthcare and community (home) settings. Methods: A systematic review was conducted by searching an electronic database including EMBASE, MEDLINE, and PsycINFO. Studies published in English from January 2010 to October 2023, which explored the association between ethnicity, social disadvantage, and medication errors, were included. Results: Thirteen studies met the inclusion criteria from an initial identification of 2075 titles. Findings indicated that minority ethnic patients were more susceptible to prescription errors, undertreatment, administration errors, and suboptimal medication monitoring and follow-up by healthcare providers. Patients with low health literacy and limited English proficiency were also significantly likely to experience comprehension errors and medication discrepancies. Furthermore, ethnicity and social disadvantages were also associated with an increased risk of overdosing in pediatric medication administration, particularly among parents using dosing cups. Conclusion: Minority ethnic background, low socio-economic status, and low health literacy can risk a higher likelihood of patients experiencing medication errors. Increasing awareness of these disparities among healthcare staff is essential for developing targeted interventions to mitigate inequalities in patient experiences and care outcomes in relation to medication use and safety. Future research should investigate the importance of intersectionality, such as multiple social disadvantages in this context.",

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AU - Osman, Samira

AU - Paudyal, Vibhu

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N2 - Introduction: Medication errors represent a significant source of healthcare-related harm, leading to mortality, morbidity, and substantial costs to health systems. Existing evidence highlights dissatisfaction and perceived discrimination experienced by patients from minority ethnic and disadvantaged backgrounds within healthcare settings. Objective: The study aimed to systematically review the literature on associations between patient race/ethnicity, socio-economic status, health literacy, and the incidence or patient experience of medication errors in healthcare and community (home) settings. Methods: A systematic review was conducted by searching an electronic database including EMBASE, MEDLINE, and PsycINFO. Studies published in English from January 2010 to October 2023, which explored the association between ethnicity, social disadvantage, and medication errors, were included. Results: Thirteen studies met the inclusion criteria from an initial identification of 2075 titles. Findings indicated that minority ethnic patients were more susceptible to prescription errors, undertreatment, administration errors, and suboptimal medication monitoring and follow-up by healthcare providers. Patients with low health literacy and limited English proficiency were also significantly likely to experience comprehension errors and medication discrepancies. Furthermore, ethnicity and social disadvantages were also associated with an increased risk of overdosing in pediatric medication administration, particularly among parents using dosing cups. Conclusion: Minority ethnic background, low socio-economic status, and low health literacy can risk a higher likelihood of patients experiencing medication errors. Increasing awareness of these disparities among healthcare staff is essential for developing targeted interventions to mitigate inequalities in patient experiences and care outcomes in relation to medication use and safety. Future research should investigate the importance of intersectionality, such as multiple social disadvantages in this context.

AB - Introduction: Medication errors represent a significant source of healthcare-related harm, leading to mortality, morbidity, and substantial costs to health systems. Existing evidence highlights dissatisfaction and perceived discrimination experienced by patients from minority ethnic and disadvantaged backgrounds within healthcare settings. Objective: The study aimed to systematically review the literature on associations between patient race/ethnicity, socio-economic status, health literacy, and the incidence or patient experience of medication errors in healthcare and community (home) settings. Methods: A systematic review was conducted by searching an electronic database including EMBASE, MEDLINE, and PsycINFO. Studies published in English from January 2010 to October 2023, which explored the association between ethnicity, social disadvantage, and medication errors, were included. Results: Thirteen studies met the inclusion criteria from an initial identification of 2075 titles. Findings indicated that minority ethnic patients were more susceptible to prescription errors, undertreatment, administration errors, and suboptimal medication monitoring and follow-up by healthcare providers. Patients with low health literacy and limited English proficiency were also significantly likely to experience comprehension errors and medication discrepancies. Furthermore, ethnicity and social disadvantages were also associated with an increased risk of overdosing in pediatric medication administration, particularly among parents using dosing cups. Conclusion: Minority ethnic background, low socio-economic status, and low health literacy can risk a higher likelihood of patients experiencing medication errors. Increasing awareness of these disparities among healthcare staff is essential for developing targeted interventions to mitigate inequalities in patient experiences and care outcomes in relation to medication use and safety. Future research should investigate the importance of intersectionality, such as multiple social disadvantages in this context.

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KW - Health literacy

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Association Between Patient Race/Ethnicity, Health Literacy, Socio-Economic Status, and Incidence of Medication Errors: A Systematic Review

Abstract

Keywords

UN SDGs

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