Evidence mapPaperPMID 40356281Full record

ArticleBritish journal of clinical pharmacology2025

Patient, carer and healthcare professional perspectives on deprescribing in surgical wards: A mixed methods study.

Bonnie M Liu, Janani Thillainadesan, Aili Langford, Kenji Fujita, Danijela Gnjidic, Sarah N Hilmer

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in British journal of clinical pharmacology, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed
field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Deprescribing: Reducing Harm, Enhancing Care.Rambam Maimonides medical journal · 2026
    Review
  2. Article
  3. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Bonnie M LiuAgeing and Pharmacology Laboratory, Kolling Institute, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney and the Northern Sydney Local Health District, Sydney, Australia.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3613-6466
Janani ThillainadesanDepartment of Geriatric Medicine and Centre for Education and Research on Ageing, Concord Hospital, Sydney, Australia.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5287-7483
Aili LangfordSydney Pharmacy School, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia.
Kenji FujitaAgeing and Pharmacology Laboratory, Kolling Institute, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney and the Northern Sydney Local Health District, Sydney, Australia.
Danijela GnjidicSydney Pharmacy School, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9404-3401
Sarah N HilmerAgeing and Pharmacology Laboratory, Kolling Institute, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney and the Northern Sydney Local Health District, Sydney, Australia.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5970-1501

Funding

National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) 1174447National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) 2025289National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) 2025346
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

aimsThe perspectives of patients and healthcare professionals regarding deprescribing in surgical wards within hospital settings are unknown. The aim of this study was to explore current practices, attitudes and the enablers and barriers to deprescribing in hospital for older surgical inpatients from the perspectives of doctors, pharmacists, patients and carers.

methodsA mixed methods study was performed. Two surveys were administered Australia-wide (revised Patients' Attitudes Towards Deprescribing questionnaire for patients/carers and Deprescribing Self-Efficacy Survey for doctors/pharmacists). Interviews, focus groups and observations of ward rounds were conducted with participants from five Australian hospitals. Quantitative data were analysed descriptively, while qualitative data were examined using a combined inductive and deductive approach, with results triangulated.

resultsThere were 109 survey participants (58 doctors/pharmacists and 51 patients/carers), 28 interview/focus group participants (15 doctors/pharmacists and 13 patients/carers) and eight ward round participants. Doctors and pharmacists reported low to moderate levels of confidence in deprescribing. While most patients and carers were satisfied with their medications, they expressed a willingness to consider deprescribing. Five themes were identified from the interviews, focus groups and ward round observations: (1) deprescribing is not a priority, (2) medication review occurs in response to triggers, (3) knowledge about deprescribing is limited, (4) deprescribing requires a team effort and (5) trust, rapport and communication are essential for successful deprescribing.

conclusionsDoctors working on surgical wards are unlikely to proactively deprescribe medications. A collaborative patient-centred approach involving geriatricians, clinical pharmacologists and pharmacists, along with educational interventions may facilitate deprescribing for surgical patients.

Indexed as

Attitude of Health PersonnelCaregiversDeprescriptionsAdultAgedAged, 80 and overAustraliaFemaleFocus GroupsHumansMaleMiddle AgedPharmacistsPhysiciansSurgery Department, HospitalSurveys and Questionnaireselderlymedication safetyprescribingsurgery

Identifiers

PMID40356281
PMCPMC12381604

What Socratic holds

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.