IntroductionDeprescribing is the process of tapering or stopping medications aiming at improving patient outcomes and optimising current therapy.
Some studies have tried to identify which patients will have inappropriate
medication deprescribed, but none have found any association with sociodemographic and clinical characteristics, number of prescribed medications
or duration of medication. Our aim was to determine Portuguese elderly patients’ attitudes and beliefs regarding medication use and their willingness
to have regular medications deprescribed.Material and methodsWe conducted a cross-sectional study in triangulation in primary care centres from mainland Portugal and its autonomous
regions. We used a random sample of 386 polymedicated older adult patients who answered the questionnaire between October 2018 and February
2019. For the quantitative analysis, we used sociodemographic characteristics, clinical profile and medication. For the qualitative analysis, we studied
an included open question by coding participants’ answers; common codes
were grouped together. A convergent mixed methods design was used.Results74.0% expressed the belief that medicines were generally beneficial. 19.9% reported a strong belief that medicines were harmful and 33.4%
that they were overused. 61.8% were against the idea of deprescribing and
24.6% were in favour of deprescription. Those against the idea had a lower
education level (p = 0.006) and a higher number of self-perceived morbidities (p = 0.001) than those not against it.ConclusionsMedication benefits were accepted by the majority of patients
who also were against the idea of deprescribing. It is important that doctors
are aware of this reality, namely in the primary care setting, addressing the
patients’ fears and beliefs and making the deprescribing process possible.
Link between vitamin B12, type 2 diabetes mellitus, and bone mineral density in elderly patients