Evaluation Of the Barriers and Facilitators of Deprescribing in The Department of Medical Oncology

Background The process of deprescribing requires collaboration among healthcare providers, with the medical oncologist's perspective, readiness, and mindset being the most crucial factor, particularly in the Medical Oncology Ward. This research seeks to assess the medical oncologist's stance on deprescribing through targeted inquiries. Methods Following a literature review, 94 item questionnaire was developed. Face validity, content validity, construct validity, criterion validity, internal consistency, and test–retest reliability were the chosen methods of validation, followed by a survey performed among medical oncologists in different cancer centres. Results The selection of questions was based on medical oncologists' practice of deprescribing. Reliability via Cronbach’s alpha was determined after face validity, which was 0.773, for 94 items. In content validity items with (Content Validity Ratio) CVR≤ 0.99 were reviewed and removed. The survey results of 51 responses indicate that the primary facilitator for deprescribing in the Medical Oncology Ward is the perception of insufficient benefits and higher risks, reported by (43.1%) respondents. The main barriers to deprescribing include concerns about interfering with cancer treatment (31.4%), reluctance to modify prescriptions from other physicians (29.4%), withdrawal symptoms (27.5%), and the absence of established guidelines (39.2%) respondents respectively. Conclusions The primary obstacles to deprescribing stem from psychological related, specifically the apprehension of potential adverse events occurring and the absence of established protocols to assist healthcare providers in deprescribing poses a challenge. For oncologists, the main facilitator in this process is the potential for complications that could exacerbate the patient's cancer condition.