Barriers and facilitators to deprescribing in older adults: protocol for an integrative review

This integrative review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of older adults' attitudes toward deprescribing, focusing on their barriers, facilitators, perceptions and beliefs in different care settings. Following Whittemore and Knafl’s five-step framework, the review will systematically search CINAHL, MEDLINE (via Ovid), Embase, and Scopus databases. As an integrative review, it will include both qualitative and quantitative studies to ensure a comprehensive analysis of the topic. Identified studies will be independently screened for eligibility and selection by two reviewers. Thematic analysis will be conducted to identify key factors influencing deprescribing decisions. A joint display will be developed to integrate and visually compare qualitative and quantitative findings. Findings will contribute to a better understanding of patient-centered deprescribing strategies.