Patient Preference and Adherence (Sep 2021)

Exploring Patients’ Attitudes Toward Deprescribing and Their Perception of Pharmacist Involvement in a European Country: A Cross-Sectional Study

  • Bužančić I,
  • Dragović P,
  • Pejaković TI,
  • Markulin L,
  • Ortner-Hadžiabdić M

Journal volume & issue
Vol. Volume 15
pp. 2197 – 2208

Abstract

Read online

Iva Bužančić,1,2 Patricia Dragović,3 Tajana Iva Pejaković,1 Luka Markulin,4 Maja Ortner-Hadžiabdić2 1City Pharmacies Zagreb, Zagreb, 10 000, Croatia; 2Centre for Applied Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy and Biochemistry, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, 10 000, Croatia; 3Prima Pharme Pharmacies, Zagreb, 10 000, Croatia; 4Pharmacy Unit, Psychiatric Hospital Ugljan, Ugljan, 23275, Ugljan Island, CroatiaCorrespondence: Maja Ortner-Hadžiabdi𐟎ntre for Applied Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy and Biochemistry, University of Zagreb, Domagojeva 2, Zagreb, 10 000, CroatiaTel +385 16461800Email [email protected]: To explore how adult patients perceive deprescribing in a country with developing pharmaceutical care.Patients and Methods: This was a multicenter cross-sectional study conducted in ten community pharmacies across Croatia. Community-dwelling adults 40 years and older, taking at least one prescription medication long term, were invited to participate. The revised and validated Patients’ Attitude Towards Deprescribing Questionnaire was used to investigate community-dwelling adults’ opinions on potential medication discontinuation. Questions regarding the patients’ perception of pharmacist competences and involvement as well as patients’ preferences in deprescribing were added. Collected data were analyzed using IBM SPSS Statistics using descriptive and inferential statistical analysis. Binary logistic regression was used to explore potential predictive factors of willingness to have medication deprescribed. All tests were performed as two-tailed and a p < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.Results: A total of 315 adults aged 40 years and older completed the questionnaire. Majority of participants, 83.81% (95% CI, 79.72% to 87.90%) stated that they were satisfied with their medications, and 83.81% (95% CI, 79.72% to 87.90%) would be willing to deprescribe one or more medications. Participants expressed a positive attitude toward pharmacists’ competences (68.89%, 95% CI, 63.75% to 74.03%) and involvement in deprescribing (71.11%, 95% CI, 66.08% to 76.14%). Participants who stated specific medication as deprescribing preference were more likely show dissatisfaction with current medication and show greater willingness to have medication deprescribed. Three factors were found to be associated with a positive attitude towards deprescribing: low concerns about stopping factor score (aOR 0.54, 95% CU=0.35– 0.84; p=0.006), low appropriateness factor score (aOR 0.62, 95% CI=0.39– 0.98; p=0.039), and a positive opinion on pharmacist involvement (aOR 2.35, 95% CI=1.18– 4.70; p= 0.016).Conclusion: This study showed the patient’s willingness for deprescription as well as their positive attitude towards pharmacists being involved in the process. Results favour transition to a patient-centred care and shared-decision making model.Keywords: stopping medications, patient preference, pharmacist, transition

Keywords