Table 3 Patients’ responses and sum scores for the Patients’ Attitudes Towards Deprescribing

I feel that I am taking a large number of medicines (n = 196)

64.3

0.5

35.2

Taking my medicines every day is very inconvenient (n = 195)

80.0

1.5

18.5

I spend a lot of money on my medicines (n = 196)

94.9

1.0

4.1

Sometimes I think I take too many medicines (n = 196)

66.3

0.5

33.2

I feel that my medicines are a burden to me (n = 193)

82.9

1.0

16.1

I would like to try stopping one of my medicines to see how I feel without it (n = 194)

78.4

1.0

20.6

I would like my doctor to reduce the dose of one or more of my medicines (n = 196)

50.5

2.6

46.9

I feel that I may be taking one or more medicines that I no longer need (n = 196)

82.6

2.6

14.8

I believe one or more of my medicines may be currently giving me side effects (n = 195)

87.2

3.1

9.7

I think one or more of my medicines may not be working (n = 195)

87.7

3.1

9.2

I have had a bad experience when stopping a medicine before (n = 194)

83.0

2.6

14.4

I would be reluctant to stop a medicine that I had been taking for a long time (n = 195)

41.5

2.1

56.4

If one of my medicines was stopped I would be worried about missing out on future benefits (n = 195)

21.5

2.1

76.4

I get stressed whenever changes are made to my medicines (n = 196)

81.2

2.0

16.8

If my doctor recommended stopping a medicine I would feel that he/she was giving up on me (n = 196)

90.8

2.6

6.6

I like to be involved in making decisions about my medicines with my doctors (n = 195)

3.1

0.5

96.4

I have a good understanding of the reasons I was prescribed each of my medicines (n = 195)

3.6

0.5

95.9

I like to know as much as possible about my medicines (n = 195)

19.5

2.0

78.5

I always ask my doctor, pharmacist or other health care professional if there is something I don’t understand about my medicines (n = 195)

23.6

2.6

73.8

I know exactly what medicines I am currently taking, and/or I keep an up to date list of my medicines (n = 195)

6.7

0.5

92.8