Patients' perspectives on deprescribing in swedish primary care: an exploratory survey study.
Publisher DOI
PubMed ID
41766353
Abstract
Background
Understanding patients' perspectives on their medications is important to facilitate collaborative deprescribing and shared decision-making.Aim
To explore older patients' attitudes towards having their medications deprescribed and facilitators for deprescribing in Swedish primary care.Methods
Swedish primary care patients (≥ 65 years and taking ≥5 medications) responded to an anonymous survey on their attitudes towards deprescribing (June 2022-December 2023).Results
Out of 101 patients (45% women), 81% were satisfied with their medications (n = 82), 78% would be willing to stop or reduce ≥1 medication if their physician said it was possible (n = 79), and 27% (n = 27) wanted to deprescribe ≥1 medications from their medication lists (with 48 unique medications being mentioned). Side effects associated with the medication was the most commonly stated reason for wanting to deprescribe, mentioned by 52% (14/27 patients). Patients most often wanted to deprescribe blood glucose lowering medications, mentioned by 26% (7/27 patients). Most frequent patient-perceived facilitators for deprescribing were the support from their general practitioner (GP) (68%), a plan for deprescribing (38%), the possibility of restarting the medication if needed (23%), and having an alternative medication (22%).Conclusions
While most older adults with polypharmacy in Swedish primary care would be willing to deprescribe if suggested by their physician, many did not want to have any medication deprescribed. This difference highlights the need to clarify patients' preferences when discussing medication changes. Support from the GP was identified as an important facilitator, demonstrating the importance of patient-GP communication and shared decision-making in deprescribing.
Understanding patients' perspectives on their medications is important to facilitate collaborative deprescribing and shared decision-making.Aim
To explore older patients' attitudes towards having their medications deprescribed and facilitators for deprescribing in Swedish primary care.Methods
Swedish primary care patients (≥ 65 years and taking ≥5 medications) responded to an anonymous survey on their attitudes towards deprescribing (June 2022-December 2023).Results
Out of 101 patients (45% women), 81% were satisfied with their medications (n = 82), 78% would be willing to stop or reduce ≥1 medication if their physician said it was possible (n = 79), and 27% (n = 27) wanted to deprescribe ≥1 medications from their medication lists (with 48 unique medications being mentioned). Side effects associated with the medication was the most commonly stated reason for wanting to deprescribe, mentioned by 52% (14/27 patients). Patients most often wanted to deprescribe blood glucose lowering medications, mentioned by 26% (7/27 patients). Most frequent patient-perceived facilitators for deprescribing were the support from their general practitioner (GP) (68%), a plan for deprescribing (38%), the possibility of restarting the medication if needed (23%), and having an alternative medication (22%).Conclusions
While most older adults with polypharmacy in Swedish primary care would be willing to deprescribe if suggested by their physician, many did not want to have any medication deprescribed. This difference highlights the need to clarify patients' preferences when discussing medication changes. Support from the GP was identified as an important facilitator, demonstrating the importance of patient-GP communication and shared decision-making in deprescribing.
Date Issued
2026-12
Publication Type
Article
Subjects
Aged
•
deprescribing
•
older adults
•
polypharmacy
•
primary health care
•
survey
Language(s)
en
Author(s)
Parodi López, Naldy | |
Thulesius, Hans | |
Mannheimer, Stina | |
Additional Credits
Journal
Scandinavian Journal of Primary Health Care
Publisher
Taylor and Francis Group
ISSN
1502-7724
0281-3432
Funding(s)
Access(Rights)
open.access