Physician-reported barriers and facilitators to thyroid hormone deprescribing in older adults

Thyroid hormone is one of the most commonly prescribed medications in the United States. Misuse of and overtreatment with thyroid hormone is common in older adults and can lead to cardiovascular and skeletal adverse events. Even though deprescribing can reduce inappropriate care, no studies have yet explored specific barriers and facilitators to guide thyroid hormone deprescribing in older adults (defined as discontinuation of thyroid hormone when initiated without an appropriate indication or dose reduction in those overtreated).

We conducted semi-structured interviews with 19 endocrinologists, geriatricians, and primary care physicians who prescribe thyroid hormone. Interviews were completed between July 2020 and December 2021 via two-way video conferencing. We used both an inductive and deductive content analysis guided by the Theoretical Domains Framework to evaluate transcribed and coded participant responses. Thematic analysis characterized themes related to barriers and facilitators to thyroid hormone deprescribing practices in older adults.

The most commonly reported barriers to thyroid hormone deprescribing were related to patient-level factors, followed by physician- and system-level factors. Patient factors included patients' perceived need for thyroid hormone use and patient anxiety/concerns about potential side effects related to thyroid hormone dose reduction, patient lack of knowledge, and misinformation regarding deprescribing. Physician- and system-level barriers included clinic visit time constraints, physician inertia, physician lack of knowledge about deprescribing, perceived lack of sufficient patient follow-up, and electronic health record limitations. The most prominent physician-reported facilitators to thyroid hormone deprescribing were effective physician-to-patient communication, and positive physician-patient relationship, including patients' trust in their treating physician.

Barriers and facilitators to thyroid hormone deprescribing in older adults were reported at multiple levels including patient-, physician-, and system-level factors. Interventions to improve thyroid hormone deprescribing in older adults should aim to improve patient education and expectations, increase multidisciplinary physician awareness, and overcome physician inertia.