12
European Pharmaceutical Students’ Association
PHARMACIST’S AND PATIENT’S PERCEPTIONS OVER DESCRIBING IN ALBANIA Msc. Ledi Shehi, Dr. Shk. Klejda Harasani, Msc. Jonida Talanaj University of Medicine Tirana, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Pharmacy Farmaci.al, Tirana, Albania
INTRODUCTION: Polypharmacy is defined as the use of five or more medications simultaneously by one patient, however inappropriate polypharmacy represents one of the current potentially avoidable problems of the healthcare system. A therapy review resulting in the reduction of drugs’ number and/or dose, known as deprescribing, can be performed when drugs are unnecessary, harmful or excessive. OBJECTIVE: To assess the perception of Albanian pharmacists and patients on therapy review, polypharmacy and reduction of unnecessary medications.
CONCLUSION: Based on our results, pharmacists are willing to help reduce medications but there are many obstacles related to perceived lack of competence and patients´ expectations. On the other hand, patients have a positive attitude towards deprescribing when doctors are involved. Specific training on deprescribing for pharmacists, increasing awareness on the adverse reactions caused by superfluous medications, and close collaboration with doctors and patients are recommended.
METHODOLOGY: Firstly, we carried out a literature review on the topic focusing on studies reporting strategies for drug therapy review by health professionals, including pharmacists, aiming to reduce redundant medication, as well as the obstacles and opportunities associated with the process of deprescribing. Two questionnaires were designed and distributed online to registered KEY WORDS: therapy review, deprescribing, pharmacists and patients regarding their polypharmacy, pharmacists, patients perception and evaluation of drug therapy review and deprescribing. RESULTS: Pharmacists and patients showed to be generally aware of the problem of polypharmacy. Among 64 pharmacists who participated in the study, 90.6 % of them reported that many prescribed medications are not necessary. Out of 100 patients who participated, 73.1 % of them opine that it is necessary to reduce the number of prescribed drugs. Most patients expressed strong preference indicating doctors as health professionals who should perform deprescribing and therapy review. Just 8.3 % of patients thought they were capable of doing it themselves and only 3.6 % of them would trust a pharmacist to conduct this process.
