Older patients’ perception of deprescribing in resource-limited settings: a cross-sectional study in an Ethiopia university hospital

OBJECTIVE: To assess older patients’ attitude towards deprescribing of inappropriate medications. DESIGN: This was an institutional-based, quantitative, cross-sectional survey. SETTING: Outpatient clinics of the University of Gondar Referral and Teaching Hospital in Ethiopia. PARTICIPANTS: Patients aged 65 or older with at least one medication were enrolled in the study from 1 March to 30 June 2017. Excluded patients were those who had severe physical or psychological problems and who refused to participate. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Older patients’ attitude towards deprescribing was measured using a validated instrument, ‘the revised Patients’ Attitudes towards Deprescribing’ (rPATD) tool for older patients. Data were collected on sociodemographic characteristics and clinical data such as comorbidity and polypharmacy, and the main outcome was older patients’ willingness to deprescribe inappropriate medications. RESULTS: Of the 351 eligible participants, 316 patients completed the survey. Of the 316 patients, 54.7% were men and were taking a median of 3 (IQR: 2–4) medications daily. Overall, most of the participants (92.1%; 95% CI 89% to 95%) were satisfied with the medications they were taking; however, still a significant number of participants (81.6%; 95% CI 77% to 86%) were willing to stop one or more of their medications if possible and agreed by their doctors. This willingness was correlated with seven items of the rPATD, including a strong correlation with the overall satisfaction of patients with the medications taken. CONCLUSION: Many older patients have shown their willingness to reduce one or more of their medications if their doctors said it was possible. Healthcare providers should be proactive in discussing and evaluating potentially inappropriate medications for better clinical decision making.