Evaluation of the Perception of Deprescribing by French Pharmacy Students: A National Observational Study

The ageing population, which is often associated with polypharmacy, indicates the need for evolution within the healthcare professions. Future pharmacists must develop new skills and knowledge to meet these challenges, including during their university training. Deprescribing is an essential process for optimising drug intake and reducing the risks associated with polypharmacy, although the term remains little known in France. This study aims to assess the perceptions of pharmacy students regarding deprescribing, and to identify their training needs. A questionnaire based on an American study was distributed. Composed of seven sections, it covered knowledge, confidence, attitudes, the interprofessional role, the required resources, as well as preparedness for deprescribing and sociodemographic data. A total of 407 responses were analysed, along with the qualitative results of two open-ended questions, which were processed using thematic analysis. The results showed that, whereas 66.2% of students felt able to identify potentially inappropriate medicines (PIMs), only 29.6% expressed confidence in their ability to deprescribe these medications. While 97.5% recognised the value of deprescribing PIMs, 88.6% identified numerous obstacles to its implementation. These results highlight the need to adapt pharmacy student training to enhance their skills and confidence in this area.