Article Text
Abstract
Introduction A recent survey of healthcare professionals found that healthcare professionals concerns about patient and family anxiety was the main barrier to deprescribing. However, the attitudes of families, children and young people (CYP) have not previously been sought.
Methods A questionnaire was designed to assess the attitudes of CYP and their parents towards polypharmacy and deprescribing based on a previously validated adult questionnaire (rPATD). Initial review and modification took place following input from a young person patient and public involvement group and a content evaluation panel of experts. Ethics approval was obtained, and a maximum of 22 participants (10% of the total study population) were to be recruited for the pilot. Inclusion criteria were CYP taking >2 for 28 days or more. The questionnaire was completed online using Microsoft Forms. Descriptive analysis was undertaken.
Results Twenty participants completed the piloting process (12 parents, 5 CYP aged 10–15 years and 3 CYP aged 16–17 years), as saturation was achieved. The mean number of medicines taken was six. Most parents (67%) thought their children were taking many medicines, whereas only 38% of CYP agreed with this. Only one CYP in the 10–15yrs stated they wanted to be involved in decisions about their medicines, whereas all of the CYP in the 16–17yrs cohort, and 92% of parents, said they liked to be involved. Overall, 83% of parents and 63% of CYP stated they would like to try stopping one of their medicines if it was advised by a doctor.
Conclusions The pilot data would suggest that CYP and their parents would be happy to consider stopping one of their medicines if advised to do so but data from the full study, which is currently recruiting, and statistically powered is awaited.