How Should Clinicians Discuss Deprescribing with Caregivers of Older Adults Living with Dementia? A Qualitative Study.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Preventive medications are potential targets for deprescribing in older adults with dementia as goals of care change from preventive to palliative. Yet, prescribers lack communication guidance to address deprescribing.

Objective

Using bisphosphonates as a case example, we sought to characterize and compare communication preferences of prescribers and family/informal caregivers regarding deprescribing.

Methods

We conducted 23 semi-structured interviews with prescribers (12) and caregivers (11) of older adults with Alzheimer's disease or related dementias (ADRD). Prescribers and caregivers were asked to provide their impressions of seven conversation starters for discussing deprescribing, focusing on a case example using bisphosphonates. These phrases focused

SUBMITTER: Fasth LM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11848725 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature