Challenges in Deprescribing among Older Adults in Post-Acute Care Transitions to Home.

OBJECTIVES: Medications with a higher risk of harm or that are unlikely to be beneficial are used by nearly all older patients in home health care (HHC). The objective of this study was to understand stakeholders' perspectives on challenges in deprescribing these medications for post-acute HHC patients. DESIGN: Qualitative individual interviews were conducted with stakeholders involved with post-acute deprescribing. SETTING AND PARTICIPANT: Older HHC patients, HHC nurses, pharmacists, and primary/acute care/post-acute prescribers from 9 US states participated in individual qualitative interviews. MEASURES: Interview questions were focused on the experience, processes, roles, training, workflow, and challenges of deprescribing in hospital-to-home transitions. We used the constant comparison approach to identify and compare findings among patient, prescriber, and pharmacist and HHC nurse stakeholders. RESULTS: We interviewed 9 older patients, 11 HHC nurses, 5 primary care physicians (PCP), 3 pharmacists, 1 hospitalist, and 1 post-acute nurse practitioner. Four challenges were described in post-acute deprescribing for HHC patients. First, PCPs' time constraints, the timing of patient encounters after hospital discharge, and the lack of prioritization of deprescribing make it difficult for PCPs to initiate post-acute deprescribing. Second, patients are often confused about their medications, despite the care team's efforts in educating the patients. Third, communication is challenging between HHC nurses, PCPs, specialists, and hospitalists. Fourth, the roles of HHC nurses and pharmacists are limited in care team collaboration and discussion about post-acute deprescribing. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS: Post-acute deprescribing relies on multiple parties in the care team yet it has challenges. Interventions to align the timing of deprescribing and that of post-acute care visits, prioritize deprescribing and allow clinicians more time to complete related tasks, improve medication education for patients, and ensure effective communication in the care team with synchronized electronic health record systems are needed to advance deprescribing during the transition from hospital to home.

How to Deprescribe Potentially Inappropriate Medications During the Hospital-to-Home Transition: Stakeholder Perspectives on Essential Tasks.

PURPOSE: Nearly all older patients receiving postacute home health care (HHC) use potentially inappropriate medications (PIMs) that carry a risk of harm. Deprescribing can reduce and optimize the use of PIMs, yet it is often not conducted among HHC patients. The objective of this study was to gather perspectives from patient, practitioner, and HHC clinician stakeholders on tasks that are essential to postacute deprescribing in HHC. METHODS: A total of 44 stakeholders, including 14 HHC patients, 15 practitioners (including 9 primary care physicians, 4 pharmacists, 1 hospitalist, and 1 nurse practitioner), and 15 HHC nurses, participated. The stakeholders were from 12 US states, including New York (n = 29), Colorado (n = 2), Connecticut (n = 1), Illinois (n = 2), Kansas (n = 2), Massachusetts (n = 1), Minnesota (n = 1), Mississippi (n = 1), Nebraska (n = 1), Ohio (n = 1), Tennessee (n = 1), and Texas (n = 2). First, individual interviews were conducted by experienced research staff via video conference or telephone. Second, the study team reviewed all interview transcripts and selected interview statements regarding stakeholders' suggestions for important tasks needed for postacute deprescribing in HHC. Third, concept mapping was conducted in which stakeholders sorted and rated selected interview statements regarding importance and feasibility. A content analysis was conducted of data collected in the individual interviews, and a mixed-method analysis was conducted of data collected in the concept mapping. FINDINGS: Four essential tasks were identified for postacute deprescribing in HHC: (1) ongoing review and assessment of medication use, (2) patent-centered and individualized plan of deprescribing, (3) timely and efficient communication among members of the care team, and (4) continuous and tailored medication education to meet patient needs. Among these tasks, developing patient-centered deprescribing considerations was considered the most important and feasible, followed by medication education, review and assessment of medication use, and communication. IMPLICATIONS: Deprescribing during the transition of care from hospital to home requires the following: continuous medication education for patients, families, and caregivers; ongoing review and assessment of medication use; patient-centered deprescribing considerations; and effective communication and collaboration among the primary care physician, HHC nurse, and pharmacist.