ABSTRACT:
Background: Medication errors are a major cause of preventable harm in patients worldwide. As defined by the National Coordinating Council for Medication Error Reporting and Prevention, they include any event leading to inappropriate medication use or patient harm. These errors can occur at various stages, including prescribing, labelling, dispensing, administration, and monitoring. The health professionals have a sound knowledge but the public lacks knowledge about risks imposed by wrong medication. There exists a huge gap in patient education in India especially in rural setups where there exists a lack of access to any information and care services. Awareness in public knowledge and Perception regarding medication errors is all-important as it focuses attention on the prevention of those errors. Objective: The general objective of this study is to sensitize and empower the general public and caregivers about medication errors while supporting the global WHO initiative that emphasizes patient safety. Specifically, the study aims to examine public knowledge and perceived reactions to medication errors, as well as to analyse the implications made by the general public in achieving medication safety. Materials And Methodology: This study utilized a questionnaire-based data collection form, an informed consent form, a patient information sheet, and MS Excel for data organization and analysis. Designed as a survey-based, cross-sectional observational study, it was conducted over six months. The proposed sample size was 350; however, 497 responses were collected. Data was obtained through a structured questionnaire after obtaining informed consent from participants aged between 18 to 70 years, including both males and females. The questionnaire was available in three languages—English, Hindi, and Gujarati—to ensure better accessibility. The collected data was analysed using statistical methods, including visual representation through pie charts and bar graphs, Chi-square and P-value to assess public knowledge and perception of medication errors. Result: - A survey of 497 respondents from Parul University, Vadodara, Gujarat, revealed the gender wise composition to be 49.3% males and 50.7% females, with a greater percentage of age gaps in between both sex entailing that within under 18-30 years, it tallied to 98% males and 99% females. Education wise, it reflected like 42% Bachelor's, 33% Master's, 20% pursuing postgraduation, 3% had completed schooling only, and finally, about 2% earned diplomas. Chi-square tests displayed significant variations of knowledge being measured at ?² = 7,920.879 and the perception at ?² = 1,217.218, all with p<0.0001. Very low p-values and high Chi-square values indicate that such factors exist that may affect the variation of knowledge and perception in the responses given by respondents. Conclusion: The study surveyed 497 individuals at Parul University, Gujarat, highlighting significant gaps in public knowledge and perception of medication errors. While many respondents were unaware of the term, a notable portion recognized the role of patients in prevention, emphasizing the need for targeted education. The findings underscore the real-world impact of medication errors, with many reporting personal experiences. However, uncertainty around reporting mechanisms suggests a need for clearer guidelines. The study calls for a multi-faceted approach, including education, policy changes, and improved communication, to enhance awareness and promote medication safety.