Healthcare provider-related perceptions toward deprescribing inappropriate medications among older adult outpatients.

OBJECTIVES

To examine healthcare provider-related perceptions toward deprescribing inappropriate medications among older adults.

METHODS

A cross-sectional, correlational study used a convenience sample of outpatient older adults to measure their perception toward deprescribing using a Patient's Perceptions of Deprescribing (PPoD), which include 57 multiple-choice questions related to patients' sociodemographic data, health, medicines, healthcare providers, and experience of care provided by the clinic. Data were collected by a graduate nursing student from one pharmacy in a public hospital, five days per week, via in-person interviews.

RESULTS

Data were analyzed for 200 participants. The level of patient collaboration with their primary care providers (PCPs) is linked to their trust in PCPs, beliefs about medication use, PCP knowledge, and medication concerns (p < .0001). Patient involvement in medication deprescribing decision-making is also associated with trust in PCPs and willingness to stop a medication (p < .0001). Additionally, trust in PCPs is related to patient involvement in decision-making, PCP knowledge, general health, collaboration with PCPs, and receiving conflicting information about a medicine (p = .010). Lastly, PCP medication knowledge is associated with trust in PCPs, views on the importance of medicines, medication concerns, seeking help with medicines, interactions with clinical pharmacists, and being advised by a clinical pharmacist to discontinue medication (p < .0001).

CONCLUSIONS

The study found that older adults' trust in their PCP, collaboration with their PCP, involvement in the decision-making of deprescribing, and knowledge about medication are associated with clinical and medicine-related factors. Therefore, PCPs should discuss the benefits of deprescribing inappropriate medications to prevent long-term side effects. Future studies should focus on the effectiveness of evidence-based deprescribing protocols for older adults.