Digital systems in general practice could reduce medication errors

The use of integrated digital tools in primary care can significantly reduce medication errors, according to a study funded by the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) through the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR). 

The researchers concluded that the most successful digital set-ups combined multiple components or systems and were well-integrated into everyday practice.

As part of a systematic review and meta-analysis, researchers looked at 74 randomised controlled trials (RCTs) from 2002 to 2025, 13 of which were from the UK or Ireland.

In findings published in BMC Medicine on 3 August 2026, researchers said that they found a 46% greater likelihood of improvement in medication safety process measures compared with control groups (typically usual care).

Across the 74 RCTs, the most frequent intervention component was clinical decision support systems, which was mentioned in 59 papers.

This was followed by reminders (n=39) audit and feedback (n=34), and patient-facing components (n=20).

The authors found 25 counts of digital systems spotting inappropriate prescribing and 2 counts of finding medication errors.

The study authors concluded that multicomponent digital systems were more effective than single-component for medication safety, suggesting that single-component programs “may address too few aspects of decision-making and behavioural domains”, the paper said.

A press release issued by the NIHR, also on 3 August 2026, said: “The most successful digital setups combined systems. For example, where clinical decision support systems (CDSS) — which prompt GPs with real-time alerts about drug interactions or missing tests — were paired with audit and feedback systems, which allow clinics to regularly review their safety data.” 

Digital systems considered by the studies intervened in a range of clinical areas, including general prescribing (n=34), cardiovascular disease (n=22), paediatric presentations (n=6), cancer (n=5), metabolic health (n=4), and respiratory disease (n=3).

However, the review also identified barriers to the use of digital systems, including difficulties integrating the digital interventions into existing systems and workflows, and lack of time and resources to use them.

NIHR said that more than 40% of the studies reported implementation barriers, “including alert fatigue — where clinicians are overwhelmed by excessive computer pop-ups — and software that disrupted busy GP consultations”.

In January 2026, NHS England referenced alert fatigue when a decision-support system was disabled, potentially contributing to a patient’s death by paracetamol overdose.

Heidi Wright, practice and policy lead for England at the Royal College of Pharmacy, said: “This is an important study that reinforces the growing evidence that well-designed digital technologies can improve patient safety in primary care. The finding that medication safety processes were 46% more likely to improve is encouraging and aligns with what we have seen from established initiatives, such as ‘PINCER’, where digital tools help identify and prevent potentially harmful prescribing.

“However, technology alone is not the answer. Digital systems are most effective when they are integrated into existing workflows, supported by appropriate training and designed with input from pharmacists and other frontline clinicians.

“Digital tools do not replace professional judgement, so clinicians remain central to decision-making. Investment in interoperability, workforce capacity and protected learning time will be essential if the NHS is to realise the full patient safety benefits of digital innovation.”