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CDA 12-166
Patient and provider perceptions of intentional medication discontinuation
Amy M Linsky, MD MSc VA Boston Healthcare System Jamaica Plain Campus, Jamaica Plain, MA Boston, MA Funding Period: May 2014 - April 2019 |
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BACKGROUND/RATIONALE:
Adverse outcomes from inappropriate medication use, whether measured as adverse clinical events, increased health care costs or decreased quality of life, are pervasive, even within the VA. Clinicians lack evidence and clinical guidelines to indicate best practices for evaluating patients' medication regimens to determine which drugs, if any, may safely be discontinued. While significant attention is given to medication reconciliation, there has been less focus on improving intentional discontinuation of medications ("deprescribing") that may no longer be necessary or whose benefits no longer outweigh associated risks. Prescribing decisions are predicated on accurate completion of medication reconciliation. The complexity of health care, even within an integrated system such as the VA, can introduce medication discrepancies, which are differences between what is documented and what the patient is actually taking. One type of discrepancy, therapeutic duplication, has the potential for unintentional overdose and may result from failure to deprescribe. OBJECTIVE(S): 1) To identify and measure patient and provider beliefs and attitudes associated with medication discontinuation; 2) To determine the frequency and correlates of therapeutic duplications to identify potential intervention targets; and 3) To develop and pilot test an intervention to facilitate medication review with consideration of potential medication discontinuation. METHODS: We used survey methods, secondary database analyses, and intervention development and implementation. We developed, validated and administered two distinct surveys - one patient-oriented and one provider-oriented. We used administrative data to determine the prevalence of and factors associated with excess medication supply. Finally, we pilot tested a patient-centered intervention to promote patient-provider communication about deprescribing. FINDINGS/RESULTS: Not yet available. IMPACT: Impact - The research proposed here will facilitate the appropriate use of medications so as to ensure the efficient use of resources. This, in turn, can improve the quality of Veterans' health care by reducing the use of potentially unnecessary medications, leading in turn to reduced medication costs, fewer adverse drug events and drug-drug interactions, decreased health care spending and improved patient safety. External Links for this ProjectNIH ReporterGrant Number: IK2HX001357-01A1Link: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/8673455 Dimensions for VA Dimensions for VA is a web-based tool available to VA staff that enables detailed searches of published research and research projects. Learn more about Dimensions for VA. VA staff not currently on the VA network can access Dimensions by registering for an account using their VA email address. Search Dimensions for this project PUBLICATIONS:Journal Articles
DRA:
Health Systems Science
DRE: Prevention, Technology Development and Assessment, Treatment - Preclinical Keywords: Career Development MeSH Terms: none |
