Eric L Walter1, Alicia Dawdani2, Alison Decker2, Megan E Hamm2, Aimee N Pickering2, Joseph T Hanlon3,4,5, Carolyn T Thorpe6,7, Mark S Roberts2,8, Michael J Fine2,7, Walid F Gellad2,4,7, Thomas R Radomski2,4,7. 1. Department of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA. 2. Division of General Internal Medicine, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA. 3. Division of Geriatric Medicine, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA. 4. Center for Pharmaceutical Policy and Prescribing, Health Policy Institute, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA. 5. Geriatric Research Education and Clinical Center, VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA. 6. Division of Pharmaceutical Outcomes and Policy, University of North Carolina Eshelman School of Pharmacy, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA. 7. Center for Health Equity Research and Promotion, VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA. 8. Department of Health Policy and Management, University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Health systems are increasingly implementing interventions to reduce older patients' use of low-value medications. However, prescribers' perspectives on medication value and the acceptability of interventions to reduce low-value prescribing are poorly understood. OBJECTIVE: To identify the characteristics that affect the value of a medication and those factors influencing low-value prescribing from the perspective of primary care physicians. DESIGN: Qualitative study using semi-structured interviews. SETTING: Academic and community primary care practices within University of Pittsburgh Medical Center health system. PARTICIPANTS: Sixteen primary care physicians. MEASUREMENTS: We elicited 16 prescribers' perspectives on definitions and examples of low-value prescribing in older adults, the factors that incentivize them to engage in such prescribing, and the characteristics of interventions that would make them less likely to engage in low-value prescribing. RESULTS: We identified three key themes. First, prescribers viewed low-value prescribing among older adults as common, characterized both by features of the medications themselves and of the particular patients to whom they were prescribed. Second, prescribers described the causes of low-value prescribing as multifactorial, with factors related to patients, prescribers, and the health system as a whole, making low-value prescribing a default practice pattern. Third, interventions addressing low-value prescribing must minimize the cognitive load and time pressures that make low-value prescribing common. Interventions increasing time pressure or cognitive load, such as increased documentation, were considered less acceptable. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings demonstrate that low-value prescribing is a well-recognized phenomenon, and that interventions to reduce low-value prescribing must consider physicians' perspectives and address the specific patient, prescriber and health system factors that make low-value prescribing a default practice.
BACKGROUND: Health systems are increasingly implementing interventions to reduce older patients' use of low-value medications. However, prescribers' perspectives on medication value and the acceptability of interventions to reduce low-value prescribing are poorly understood. OBJECTIVE: To identify the characteristics that affect the value of a medication and those factors influencing low-value prescribing from the perspective of primary care physicians. DESIGN: Qualitative study using semi-structured interviews. SETTING: Academic and community primary care practices within University of Pittsburgh Medical Center health system. PARTICIPANTS: Sixteen primary care physicians. MEASUREMENTS: We elicited 16 prescribers' perspectives on definitions and examples of low-value prescribing in older adults, the factors that incentivize them to engage in such prescribing, and the characteristics of interventions that would make them less likely to engage in low-value prescribing. RESULTS: We identified three key themes. First, prescribers viewed low-value prescribing among older adults as common, characterized both by features of the medications themselves and of the particular patients to whom they were prescribed. Second, prescribers described the causes of low-value prescribing as multifactorial, with factors related to patients, prescribers, and the health system as a whole, making low-value prescribing a default practice pattern. Third, interventions addressing low-value prescribing must minimize the cognitive load and time pressures that make low-value prescribing common. Interventions increasing time pressure or cognitive load, such as increased documentation, were considered less acceptable. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings demonstrate that low-value prescribing is a well-recognized phenomenon, and that interventions to reduce low-value prescribing must consider physicians' perspectives and address the specific patient, prescriber and health system factors that make low-value prescribing a default practice.
Authors: Aimee N Pickering; Megan E Hamm; Alicia Dawdani; Joseph T Hanlon; Carolyn T Thorpe; Walid F Gellad; Thomas R Radomski Journal: J Am Geriatr Soc Date: 2020-02-17 Impact factor: 5.562
Authors: Aimee N Pickering; Eric L Walter; Alicia Dawdani; Alison Decker; Megan E Hamm; Walid F Gellad; Thomas R Radomski Journal: BMC Geriatr Date: 2022-02-24 Impact factor: 3.921
Authors: Thomas R Radomski; Alison Decker; Dmitry Khodyakov; Carolyn T Thorpe; Joseph T Hanlon; Mark S Roberts; Michael J Fine; Walid F Gellad Journal: JAMA Netw Open Date: 2022-02-01