Table 5 Reactions of the GPs on the recommendations of the experts
Drugs rated as inappropriate and DISCONTINUED | |||
|---|---|---|---|
|  | n drugs (%) | Median (IQR) | min – max |
Total number of stopped drugs | 102 (24.3%) | Â | Â |
n stopped drugs per patient |  | 0 (0–1) | 0–5 |
n stopped drugs per GP |  | 4.5 (1.3–7) | 1–12 |
n patients with ≥1 stopped drug | 80 (37.2%) |  |  |
Most frequently stopped drug classes | n drugs | % of drugs rated as inappropriate per drug class | |
Drugs for gout treatment (Allopurinol) | 5 | 55.6% (n = 9) | |
NSAIDs, COX-2-inhibitors (Coxibe) | 9 | 42.9% (n = 21) | |
Beta-blockers | 10 | 34.5% (n = 29) | |
Alpha-blockers | 5 | 33.3% (n = 15) | |
Antiarrhythmics | 3 | 30.0% (n = 10) | |
Corticosteroids | 3 | 27.3% (n = 11) | |
Antiepileptics | 4 | 26.7% (n = 15) | |
Anxiolytics/hypnotics (Benzodiazepines, Zolpidem) | 16 | 21.9% (n = 73) | |
Opioids | 2 | 20.0% (n = 10) | |
Oral antidiabetic drugs | 4 | 18.2% (n = 22) | |
PPIs | 13 | 18.1% (n = 72) | |
Antidepressants, antipsychotics | 4 | 11.8% (n = 34) | |
Drugs rated as inappropriate and NOT DISCONTINUED | |||
| Â | n drugs | % of drugs / patients | |
Total number of not stopped drugs | 317 | 75.7% (n = 419) | |
n patients with ≥1 not stopped drugs | 135 | 62.8% (n = 215) | |
n GPs who gave an explanation for not stopping | 177 | 55.8% (n = 317) | |
GPs’ explanations for not stopping an inappropriate drug | n drugs | % of not discontinued drugs (n = 317) | |
An indication for the drug was given | 131 | 41.3% | |
Prescribed/recommended by specialists, therefore not withdrawn | 24 | 7.6% | |
Patient’s refusal of discontinuation | 15 | 4.7% | |
Discontinuation attempted and failed (symptom recurrence) | 5 | 1.6% | |
Dose reduction instead of complete withdrawal | 2 | 0.6% | |
Most frequently not stopped drug classes | n drugs | % of drugs rated as inappropriate per drug class | |
Oral anticoagulants | 9 | 100% (n = 9) | |
Vitamins (predominantly Vit. D) | 10 | 90.9% (n = 11) | |
Analgesics - Paracetamol | 8 | 88.9% (n = 9) | |
Dietary supplements (predominantly Calcium) | 8 | 88.9% (n = 9) | |
Antidepressants, antipsychotics | 30 | 88.2% (n = 34) | |
PPIs | 59 | 81.9% (n = 72) | |
Oral antidiabetic drugs | 18 | 81.8% (n = 22) | |
Opioids | 8 | 80.0% (n = 10) | |
Anxiolytics/hypnotics (Benzodiazepines, Zolpidem) | 57 | 78.1% (n = 73) | |
| Â | n drugs | % | |
Total number of re-prescribed drugs | 35 | 34.3% (n = 102 discontinued drugs) | |
n patients with ≥1 re-prescribed drug | 33 | 41.2% (n = 80 patients with ≥1 stopped drug) | |
n patients with 0 re-prescribed drugs | 47 | 58.8% (n = 80 patients with ≥1 stopped drug) | |
Most frequently re-prescribed drug classes | n drugs | % of stopped drugs per drug class | |
Benzodiazepines | 7 | 43.8% (n = 16) | |
PPIs | 6 | 46.2% (n = 13) | |
NSAIDs, COX-2-inhibitors (Coxibe) | 4 | 44.4% (n = 9) | |
Beta-blockers | 4 | 40.0% (n = 10) | |
Antidepressants | 2 | 50.0% (n = 4) | |