Knowledge and Opinions of Family Physicians in Denizli Regarding Deprescribing

Aim: This study aims to assess the knowledge and opinions of family physicians in Denizli regarding deprescribing. Method: This descriptive study was conducted between January and April 2024, involving family physicians working at family health centers in Denizli. The sociodemographic characteristics of the participants were surveyed, and their knowledge and opinions about the term "deprescribing" were evaluated. Results: The study included 223 family physicians. Of the participants, 72.2% (n=161) had not heard of the term "deprescribing". A total of 15.7% (n=35) had received training on polypharmacy or deprescribing. A statistically significant relationship was found between having received training and being familiar with the term "deprescribing" and its meaning. Participants identified "polypharmacy" as the primary motivating factor for deprescribing. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs were considered the most frequent for deprescribing. The main barrier identified by physicians was the reluctance to interfere with the treatment initiated by another specialist. Conclusion: Although the majority of participants were unfamiliar with the term "deprescribing" and its meaning, three-quarters of them had applied the process in the last two months. Polypharmacy was the most motivating factor for deprescribing, while the main barrier was the reluctance to intervene in treatments initiated by other specialists. Keywords: knowledge, deprescribing, polypharmacy, primary care