Nagham J Ailabouni1, Kristie Rebecca Weir2, Emily Reeve3, Justin T Turner4, Jennifer Wilson Norton5, Shelly L Gray5. 1. University of South Australia, UniSA: Clinical and Health Sciences, Quality Use of Medicines and Pharmacy Research Centre (QUMPRC), Adelaide, South Australia, Australia; School of Pharmacy, Plein Center for Geriatric Research, Education and Outreach, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA. Electronic address: nagham.ailabouni@unisa.edu.au. 2. University of South Australia, UniSA: Clinical and Health Sciences, Quality Use of Medicines and Pharmacy Research Centre (QUMPRC), Adelaide, South Australia, Australia; University of Sydney, Sydney School of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. 3. University of South Australia, UniSA: Clinical and Health Sciences, Quality Use of Medicines and Pharmacy Research Centre (QUMPRC), Adelaide, South Australia, Australia; Dalhousie University and Nova Scotia Health Authority, Geriatric Medicine Research, Faculty of Medicine, and College of Pharmacy, Halifax, Canada. 4. Institut Universitaire de Gériatrie de Montréal, Centre de Recherche, Montréal, Canada; University of Montreal, Faculty of Pharmacy, Montreal, Canada. 5. School of Pharmacy, Plein Center for Geriatric Research, Education and Outreach, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To examine older adults' perceptions and identify barriers and enablers to initiating a conversation about stopping medication(s) with their healthcare provider. METHODS: We conducted one focus group (n = 3) and in-depth, face-to-face, individual interviews (n = 6) using an interview guide. Older adults aged ≥65 years in a retirement community who were taking ≥5 medications were recruited. Focus groups and interviews were audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim. Both a deductive analysis, informed by the Theoretical Domains Framework, and an inductive analysis were conducted. RESULTS: Five themes and fourteen sub-themes were identified. Theme 1, 'older adult-related barriers', discusses limited or varying self-efficacy, past unsuccessful deprescribing experiences and limited familiarity with medications/deprescribing. Theme 2, 'provider-related barriers', discusses trust, short office visits, lack of communication and multiple providers. Theme 3, 'environmental/social-related barriers', involves limited availability of resources and access to telehealth/internet. The remaining themes (Themes 4-5) identified enablers including strategies to promote older adults' self-efficacy and improved healthcare communication. CONCLUSION: Consumer-centric tools could improve older adults' self-efficacy to initiate deprescribing conversations. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: Removing barriers and implementing enablers may empower older adults to initiate deprescribing conversations with providers to take fewer medications. Ultimately, this could be a catalyst for increased translation of deprescribing in practice.
OBJECTIVE: To examine older adults' perceptions and identify barriers and enablers to initiating a conversation about stopping medication(s) with their healthcare provider. METHODS: We conducted one focus group (n = 3) and in-depth, face-to-face, individual interviews (n = 6) using an interview guide. Older adults aged ≥65 years in a retirement community who were taking ≥5 medications were recruited. Focus groups and interviews were audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim. Both a deductive analysis, informed by the Theoretical Domains Framework, and an inductive analysis were conducted. RESULTS: Five themes and fourteen sub-themes were identified. Theme 1, 'older adult-related barriers', discusses limited or varying self-efficacy, past unsuccessful deprescribing experiences and limited familiarity with medications/deprescribing. Theme 2, 'provider-related barriers', discusses trust, short office visits, lack of communication and multiple providers. Theme 3, 'environmental/social-related barriers', involves limited availability of resources and access to telehealth/internet. The remaining themes (Themes 4-5) identified enablers including strategies to promote older adults' self-efficacy and improved healthcare communication. CONCLUSION: Consumer-centric tools could improve older adults' self-efficacy to initiate deprescribing conversations. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: Removing barriers and implementing enablers may empower older adults to initiate deprescribing conversations with providers to take fewer medications. Ultimately, this could be a catalyst for increased translation of deprescribing in practice.