Use of MedSafer electronic decision support for deprescribing in patients on hemodialysis: a qualitative study

Background Patients on dialysis are commonly prescribed multiple medications (polypharmacy), many of which are potentially inappropriate medications (PIMs). PIMs are associated with an increased risk of falls, fractures, and hospitalization. Deprescribing is a promising intervention to reduce PIMs.M...

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Main Authors: Émilie Bortolussi-Courval, Jimmy J. Lee, Emilie Trinh, Lisa M. McCarthy, M. Battistella, Ryan Hanula, Todd C. Lee, Kathleen Rice, Emily G. McDonald
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Taylor & Francis Group 2024-12-01
Series:Health Literacy and Communication Open
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Online Access:https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/28355245.2024.2399549
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author Émilie Bortolussi-Courval
Jimmy J. Lee
Emilie Trinh
Lisa M. McCarthy
M. Battistella
Ryan Hanula
Todd C. Lee
Kathleen Rice
Emily G. McDonald
author_facet Émilie Bortolussi-Courval
Jimmy J. Lee
Emilie Trinh
Lisa M. McCarthy
M. Battistella
Ryan Hanula
Todd C. Lee
Kathleen Rice
Emily G. McDonald
author_sort Émilie Bortolussi-Courval
collection DOAJ
description Background Patients on dialysis are commonly prescribed multiple medications (polypharmacy), many of which are potentially inappropriate medications (PIMs). PIMs are associated with an increased risk of falls, fractures, and hospitalization. Deprescribing is a promising intervention to reduce PIMs.Methods We previously conducted a prospective controlled trial whereby we provided deprescribing decision support to nephrologists in one of two tertiary care outpatient hemodialysis units in Montreal, Canada. We aimed to collect information on barriers and facilitators to implementing deprescribing decision support with an electronic tool (MedSafer) by conducting semi-structured interviews among the four nephrologists who participated in the intervention arm of the study, between February and April 2023, following completion of the study. The four nephrologists had conducted medication reviews for a total of 68 patients on the intervention unit during the study. Interviews with participating nephrologists were conducted and transcribed by the study lead. Afterwards, data was coded and analyzed thematically with a focus on their perspective on participating in a quality improvement project during their clinical practice. Two graduate students used a combination of deductive (Theoretical Domains Framework) and inductive coding to analyze each transcribed interview in duplicate. Each coder then created a mind map to visually interpret results and derive themes. A senior qualitative researcher oversaw the development of the final common themes from the interviews.Results Four themes were developed: 1) the importance of deprescribing for patients on hemodialysis, 2) barriers to the success of the deprescribing intervention (e.g., the lack of a clinical pharmacist on the unit), 3) resources that were needed during the intervention (e.g., multidisciplinary team members to facilitate medication reconciliation), and 4) resources that facilitated the intervention (e.g., the provision of deprescribing brochures to patients).Conclusions This was the first study to explore the perspectives of nephrologists participating in a quality improvement project on deprescribing for patients on hemodialysis. This study interviewed a limited number of prescribers, which could limit the contextualized understanding and transferability of the nephrologists’ experiences. As a next step, some of the facilitators identified by the nephrologists should be implemented and studied in a larger clinical trial.Trial registration: NCT05585268
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spelling doaj-art-de45b05329ac4d5380a11000ec79e5db2025-08-20T01:57:54ZengTaylor & Francis GroupHealth Literacy and Communication Open2835-52452024-12-012110.1080/28355245.2024.2399549Use of MedSafer electronic decision support for deprescribing in patients on hemodialysis: a qualitative studyÉmilie Bortolussi-Courval0Jimmy J. Lee1Emilie Trinh2Lisa M. McCarthy3M. Battistella4Ryan Hanula5Todd C. Lee6Kathleen Rice7Emily G. McDonald8Division of Experimental Medicine, Department of Medicine, McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, Quebec, CanadaDivision of Experimental Medicine, Department of Medicine, McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, Quebec, CanadaDivision of Nephrology, Department of Medicine, McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, Quebec, CanadaLeslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, CanadaLeslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, CanadaDivision of Experimental Medicine, Department of Medicine, McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, Quebec, CanadaDivision of Experimental Medicine, Department of Medicine, McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, Quebec, CanadaDivision of Family Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, CanadaDivision of Experimental Medicine, Department of Medicine, McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, Quebec, CanadaBackground Patients on dialysis are commonly prescribed multiple medications (polypharmacy), many of which are potentially inappropriate medications (PIMs). PIMs are associated with an increased risk of falls, fractures, and hospitalization. Deprescribing is a promising intervention to reduce PIMs.Methods We previously conducted a prospective controlled trial whereby we provided deprescribing decision support to nephrologists in one of two tertiary care outpatient hemodialysis units in Montreal, Canada. We aimed to collect information on barriers and facilitators to implementing deprescribing decision support with an electronic tool (MedSafer) by conducting semi-structured interviews among the four nephrologists who participated in the intervention arm of the study, between February and April 2023, following completion of the study. The four nephrologists had conducted medication reviews for a total of 68 patients on the intervention unit during the study. Interviews with participating nephrologists were conducted and transcribed by the study lead. Afterwards, data was coded and analyzed thematically with a focus on their perspective on participating in a quality improvement project during their clinical practice. Two graduate students used a combination of deductive (Theoretical Domains Framework) and inductive coding to analyze each transcribed interview in duplicate. Each coder then created a mind map to visually interpret results and derive themes. A senior qualitative researcher oversaw the development of the final common themes from the interviews.Results Four themes were developed: 1) the importance of deprescribing for patients on hemodialysis, 2) barriers to the success of the deprescribing intervention (e.g., the lack of a clinical pharmacist on the unit), 3) resources that were needed during the intervention (e.g., multidisciplinary team members to facilitate medication reconciliation), and 4) resources that facilitated the intervention (e.g., the provision of deprescribing brochures to patients).Conclusions This was the first study to explore the perspectives of nephrologists participating in a quality improvement project on deprescribing for patients on hemodialysis. This study interviewed a limited number of prescribers, which could limit the contextualized understanding and transferability of the nephrologists’ experiences. As a next step, some of the facilitators identified by the nephrologists should be implemented and studied in a larger clinical trial.Trial registration: NCT05585268https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/28355245.2024.2399549Polypharmacydialysisdeprescribingdecision supportchronic renal insufficiency
spellingShingle Émilie Bortolussi-Courval
Jimmy J. Lee
Emilie Trinh
Lisa M. McCarthy
M. Battistella
Ryan Hanula
Todd C. Lee
Kathleen Rice
Emily G. McDonald
Use of MedSafer electronic decision support for deprescribing in patients on hemodialysis: a qualitative study
Health Literacy and Communication Open
Polypharmacy
dialysis
deprescribing
decision support
chronic renal insufficiency
title Use of MedSafer electronic decision support for deprescribing in patients on hemodialysis: a qualitative study
title_full Use of MedSafer electronic decision support for deprescribing in patients on hemodialysis: a qualitative study
title_fullStr Use of MedSafer electronic decision support for deprescribing in patients on hemodialysis: a qualitative study
title_full_unstemmed Use of MedSafer electronic decision support for deprescribing in patients on hemodialysis: a qualitative study
title_short Use of MedSafer electronic decision support for deprescribing in patients on hemodialysis: a qualitative study
title_sort use of medsafer electronic decision support for deprescribing in patients on hemodialysis a qualitative study
topic Polypharmacy
dialysis
deprescribing
decision support
chronic renal insufficiency
url https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/28355245.2024.2399549
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