Browsing by Author "Foreman, Nicole Isabel Vicente"
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- To know the elderly’s ideas and attitudes about polypharmacy and deprescribing: a qualitative studyPublication . Foreman, Nicole Isabel Vicente; Simões, José Augusto Rodrigues; Simões, Pedro Augusto Gomes Rodrigues MarquesIntroduction: The prevalence of polypharmacy and potentially inappropriate medications is considered high in the elderly, making them vulnerable to adverse drug events. Elderly’s medication review followed by cessation of potentially inappropriate medications with a health professional's help is called deprescribing. Several barriers and enablers influence this process. So, its knowledge can help health professionals to better approach deprescribing. This study aims to understand the elderly's attitudes and ideas about polypharmacy and deprescribing and infer the main barriers and enablers to deprescription. Methodology: A qualitative approach through a focus group was carried out with older adults under polypharmacy from an adult day-care centre. Transcription and codification, into themes and subthemes based in previous frameworks was made. Each one of those corresponds to barriers and enablers of deprescription. Results: Eleven older adults participated in the focus group. The identified elderly's ideas and attitudes could be clustered into five main barriers (appropriateness, process, influences, fear and others) and four main enablers (appropriateness, process, influences and dislike). Conclusion: Although elderly's strong beliefs regarding medication benefits and necessity prevail, contrary opinions regarding lack of benefit/necessity, the experience of drug interactions/side effects, medication complexity/number may influence their willingness to deprescribe positively. The health professionals’ influence and the patients' trust in their doctors showed to be essential for decision-making as either a barrier or an enabler. Therefore, the elderly's attitudes and ideas are complex and may influence their willingness to be deprescribed. The medication benefit was a high barrier approached, and side effects/drug interactions experiences, one of the most enablers approached.