Tackling the medication burden in older adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus - A priority setting partnership to identify research priorities
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Britta Jensen1, Ann Lykkegaard Sørensen2, Michael Skovdal Rathleff3
1Public Health and Epidemiology, Department of Health Science and Technology, Aalborg University, Selma Lagerløfs Vej 249, 9260 Gistrup, Denmark.
Aim:
Older adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus often struggle with polypharmacy, yet research rarely involves them in identifying priority topics. This study aimed to identify and prioritize key research questions on polypharmacy in older adults (≥70 years) with type 2 diabetes mellitus.
Methods:
Using a priority setting partnership, we engaged interest-holders through surveys and prioritisation processes. Participants proposed up to five questions. Data was stratified into older adults/relatives and healthcare professionals and analysed separately using thematic analysis. Final prioritization was achieved through structured ranking involving all interest-holder groups.
Results:
A total of 184 respondents submitted 279 questions, yielding 23 indicative research questions (10 from older adults/relatives, 13 from professionals), including four overlapping across the two groups. In the prioritization phase, 61 older adults/relatives and five healthcare professionals ranked these questions, producing an overlapping top priority: structuring medication pathways to ensure continuity of care across hospitals, general practice, and other healthcare services.
Conclusion:
By foregrounding voices of those directly impacted by polypharmacy, this study establishes an interest-holder driven research agenda reflecting real-world complexities in managing multiple medications in older adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus.
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