The relationship between medication knowledge and attitudes towards deprescribing among Chinese older patients with multimorbidity : a cross-sectional study

Older patients with multimorbidity constitute a high-risk population for potentially inappropriate medications and may derive significant benefits from deprescribing interventions. The purpose of this study was to explore the relationship between medication knowledge and attitudes towards deprescribing of older patients with multimorbidity in China. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 595 older adults aged 60 years or above with multimorbidity taking at least one prescription medication regularly. Attitudes towards deprescribing were assessed using the Chinese version of the revised Patients’ Attitudes Toward Deprescribing (rPATD) questionnaire, and medication knowledge was evaluated using the Medication Knowledge Assessment Scale. Logistic regression analysis was used to examine the association between medication knowledge and attitudes towards deprescribing. Among all participants, 13.3% of patients demonstrated low level medication knowledge, while 77.5% reported satisfaction with medications, and 55.8% expressed willingness to deprescribe. Both medium and high levels of medication knowledge were associated with increased medication satisfaction (OR = 3.55, 95%CI:2.03–6.20; OR = 8.37, 95%CI: 4.45–15.71), willingness to deprescribe (OR = 1.93, 95%CI:1.11–3.35; OR = 4.41, 95%CI:2.49–7.81), involvement in medication management (OR = 4.23, 95%CI: 2.35–7.59; OR = 21.31, 95%CI:11.00–41.27), and concerns about stopping (OR = 10.92, 95%CI:1.45–82.41; OR = 13.56, 95%CI:1.80–102.19). Conversely, higher knowledge levels were negatively associated with appropriateness of medication (OR = 0.20, 95%CI:0.08–0.52; OR = 0.17, 95%CI:0.07–0.45). High level medication knowledge was identified as a risk factor for burden of medication (OR = 2.41, 95%CI:1.25–4.64). Medication knowledge positively influenced medication satisfaction and involvement in medication management, increasing willingness to deprescribe, burden of medication, and concerns about stopping. Targeted education and support programs should be implemented to enhance medication knowledge among older patients with multimorbidity, facilitating the optimization and simplification of medication regimens.