Table 4 Caregivers’ responses to the rPATD questionnaire
From: Attitudinal predictors of older peoples’ and caregivers’ desire to deprescribe in hospital
Item | Strongly disagree Number % | Disagree Number % | Neither agree nor disagree Number % | Agree Number % | Strongly agree Number % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Burden to the National Health Service | |||||
I feel the National Health Service (NHS) spends a lot of money on my care recipient’s medicines | 0 | 5 (6.6) | 28 (36.8) | 26 (34.2) | 17 (22.4) |
Burden | |||||
I feel that the person I care for is taking a large number of medicines | 4 (5.3) | 14 (18.4) | 18 (23.7) | 31 (40.8) | 9 (11.8) |
I feel that my care recipient’s medicines are a burden to them | 8 (10.5) | 37 (48.7) | 14 (18.4) | 16 (21.1) | 1 (1.3) |
Sometimes I think the person I care for takes too many medicines | 8 (10.5) | 21 (27.6) | 23 (30.3) | 21 (27.6) | 3 (3.9) |
Appropriateness | |||||
I feel that the person that I care for may be taking one or more medicines that they no longer need | 4 (5.3) | 22 (28.9) | 22 (28.9) | 25 (32.9) | 3 (3.9) |
I would like the doctor to try stopping one of my care recipient’s medicines to see how they feel without ita | 7 (9.2) | 22 (28.9) | 14 (18.4) | 29 (38.2) | 4 (5.3) |
I would like the doctor to reduce the dose of one or more of my care recipient’s medicines | 7 (9.2) | 22 (28.9) | 29 (38.2) | 16 (21.1) | 2 (2.6) |
I think one or more of my care recipient’s medicines may not be working | 5 (6.6) | 22 (28.9) | 32 (42.1) | 17 (22.4) | 0 |
I believe one or more of my care recipient’s medicines may be currently giving them side effects | 6 (7.9) | 25 (32.9) | 18 (23.7) | 23 (30.3) | 4 (5.3) |
Concerns about stopping | |||||
I would be reluctant to stop one of my care recipient’s medicines that they had been taking for a long time | 2 (2.6) | 20 (26.3) | 13 (17.1) | 35 (46.1) | 6 (7.9) |
I get stressed whenever changes are made to my care recipient’s medicines | 16 (21.1) | 28 (36.8) | 19 (25.0) | 13 (17.1) | 0 |
I feel that if I agreed to stopping one of my care recipient’s medicines then this is giving up on them | 15 (19.7) | 29 (38.2) | 16 (21.1) | 13 (17.1) | 3 (3.9) |
The person that I care for has had a bad experience when stopping a medicine before | 43 (56.6) | 22 (28.9) | 6 (7.9) | 5 (6.6) | 0 |
Involvement | |||||
I know exactly what medicines the person that I care for is currently taking and/or I have an up-to-date list of their medicines | 0 | 12 (15.8) | 3 (3.9) | 41 (53.9) | 16 (21.1) |
I like to know as much as possible about my care recipient’s medicines | 0 | 3 (3.9) | 8 (10.5) | 39 (51.3) | 22 (28.9) |
I like to be involved in making decisions about my care recipients medicines with their doctors | 2 (2.6) | 10 (13.2) | 10 (13.2) | 33 (43.4) | 17 (22.4) |
I always ask the doctor, pharmacist or other healthcare professional if there is something I don’t understand about my care recipient’s medicines | 1 (1.3) | 10 (13.2) | 7 (9.2) | 39 (51.3) | 15 (19.7) |
Global | |||||
If their doctor said it was possible I would be willing to stop one or more of my care recipient’s medicines | 2 (2.6) | 1 (1.3) | 14 (18.4) | 50 (65.8) | 8 (10.5) |
Overall, I am satisfied with my care recipient’s current medicines | 2 (2.6) | 2 (2.6) | 10 (13.2) | 51 (67.1) | 10 (13.2) |