Engaging Patients in Discussions About Medication Deprescribing

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Health Literacy
• Patient Engagement

Background:

• Deprescribing, the intentional reduction or discontinuation of medications, aims to minimize inappropriate use and medication-related harm.
• Patient involvement in deprescribing conversations can enhance the likelihood of medication changes and support shared decision-making.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effect of patient-focused educational materials on patient engagement and initiation of deprescribing discussions with primary care providers (PCPs).

Main Methods:

• A study involved mailing medication-specific brochures to patients two weeks before their PCP appointments.
• Surveys were sent post-appointment to assess patient-reported deprescribing discussions and brochure engagement.
• Multivariable logistic regression analyzed factors associated with deprescribing discussions.

Main Results:

• Patient characteristics like higher education and adequate health literacy were linked to increased deprescribing discussions.
• Active engagement with brochure activities, pre-appointment PCP contact, and discussing the brochure with others also significantly increased discussion likelihood.
• Conversely, Black patients were less likely to report deprescribing discussions compared to White patients.

Conclusions:

• Patient engagement with educational materials and individual characteristics significantly influence deprescribing discussions.
• Patient-centered brochures can empower patients, integrating their perspectives into deprescribing decisions.
• Future research should focus on implementation strategies to improve deprescribing reach, especially for patients with lower health literacy.