Description of barriers to the deprescription of inappropriate drugs in French hospitalized geriatric services

In France, drug-related iatrogenesis is considered to be the cause of numerous emergency departments consultations and the onset of many disabling comorbidities in elderly people. Deprescribing potentially inappropriate drugs for the older adults could help prevent this. However studies have shown that patients are reluctant to take this approach. The aim of this study was to describe the barriers and attitudes of older adults patients cared for in the French geriatric network as regards deprescribing potentially inappropriate prescription. This study was a non-interventional, multicentric, prospective cross-sectional one carried out with patients aged 75 and over, hospitalized in the French geriatric network. Data was collected using the "revised Patients' attitude toward deprescribing" questionnaire, validated in French. Analysis of the results showed that patients had a high opinion of their treatments and did not see them as a bother. Nonetheless, although 60% were in favour of this approach overall, they seemed more reluctant to stop their antihypertensive, hypnotic and benzodiazepine treatments. This study led to better understanding of the attitudes of older adults French people towards deprescribing and opens up practical avenues for encouraging discussion on treatments and better acceptance of deprescribing. Clinical trials registration NCT05327634.