Prevalence of medication-related problems and its predictors among cancer patients in Ethiopia: A systematic review and meta-analysis.
| Title: | Prevalence of medication-related problems and its predictors among cancer patients in Ethiopia: A systematic review and meta-analysis. |
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| Authors: | Yismaw MB; Department of Pharmacy, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Bahr Dar University, Bahr Dar, Ethiopia.; Tafere C; Department of Pharmacy, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Bahr Dar University, Bahr Dar, Ethiopia.; Tefera BB; Department of Pharmacy, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Bahr Dar University, Bahr Dar, Ethiopia.; Yehualaw A; Department of Pharmacy, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Bahr Dar University, Bahr Dar, Ethiopia.; Demsie DG; Department of Pharmacy, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Bahr Dar University, Bahr Dar, Ethiopia.; Feyisa K; Department of Pharmacy, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Bahr Dar University, Bahr Dar, Ethiopia.; Debasu Addisu Z; Department of Pharmacy, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Bahr Dar University, Bahr Dar, Ethiopia.; Agmassie Z; Department of Pharmacy, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Bahr Dar University, Bahr Dar, Ethiopia.; Aschale E; Department of Pharmacy, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Bahr Dar University, Bahr Dar, Ethiopia.; Zeleke TK; Department of Pharmacy, College of Health Sciences, Debre Markos University, Debre Markos, Ethiopia.; Abebe RB; Department of Clinical Pharmacy, School of Pharmacy, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia.; Bogale EK; Department of Health Promotion and Behavioral Sciences, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Bahr Dar University, Bahr Dar, Ethiopia.; Kefale B; Department of Pharmacy, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Bahr Dar University, Bahr Dar, Ethiopia.; School of Pharmacy and Pharmacology, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia. |
| Source: | PloS one [PLoS One] 2026 Mar 10; Vol. 21 (3), pp. e0315818. Date of Electronic Publication: 2026 Mar 10 (Print Publication: 2026). |
| Publication Type: | Journal Article; Systematic Review; Meta-Analysis |
| Language: | English |
| Journal Info: | Publisher: Public Library of Science Country of Publication: United States NLM ID: 101285081 Publication Model: eCollection Cited Medium: Internet ISSN: 1932-6203 (Electronic) Linking ISSN: 19326203 NLM ISO Abbreviation: PLoS One Subsets: MEDLINE |
| Imprint Name(s): | Original Publication: San Francisco, CA : Public Library of Science |
| MeSH Terms: | Neoplasms*/drug therapy ; Neoplasms*/epidemiology ; Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions*/epidemiology; Ethiopia/epidemiology ; Humans ; Prevalence ; Risk Factors |
| Abstract: | Background: Preventable medication-related problems intensify the risk associated with cancer care and no data was available to represent the burden of medication-related problems among cancer patients in Ethiopia. Hence, this study was aimed to estimate the pooled prevalence of medication-related problems and identify its predictors among cancer patients treated in Ethiopia.; Methods: A systematic review and meta-analysis of studies retrieved from databases (Medline, EMBASE, Scopus, Cumulative Index to the Nursing and Allied Literature (CINAHL), Cochrane Library and Google Scholar) for relevant literature published before April, 2024 was made. We included observational studies conducted in Ethiopia that reported on the types, frequency, or risk factors of medication-related problems in cancer patients. Reviews, case reports, qualitative studies, and studies lacking relevant outcomes were excluded. The Newcastle-Ottawa quality assessment scale was used for quality assessment and the Egger's regression test and the Galbraith plot were used to evaluate publication bias. The national prevalence of medication-related problems was estimated using a random-effects model meta-analysis. Moreover, subgroup analysis and meta-regression analyses were done to explore the reasons of statistical heterogeneity. The study protocol has been registered with PROSPERO under number CRD42024505218.; Results: A total of 15 studies comprising of 3084 cancer patients were included in this study. The adjusted pooled prevalence of medication-related problems of cancer patients who experienced at least one medication-related problem was 48% [0.48 (95% CI: 0.39-0.57; I2 = 96%; p |
| Competing Interests: | The authors have declared that no competing interests exist. |
| Entry Date(s): | Date Created: 20260310 Date Completed: 20260311 Latest Revision: 20260316 |
| Update Code: | 20260317 |
| PubMed Central ID: | PMC12974847 |
| DOI: | 10.1371/journal.pone.0315818 |
| PMID: | 41805738 |
| Database: | MEDLINE |
Journal Article; Systematic Review; Meta-Analysis