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What influences prescribing decisions in a multimorbidity and polypharmacy context on the acute medical unit? An interprofessional, qualitative study
  • +1
  • Peter Rivers,
  • Nigel Langford,
  • Andrew Whitehead,
  • Tim Harrison
Peter Rivers
De Montfort University - City Campus

Corresponding Author:[email protected]

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Nigel Langford
University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust
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Andrew Whitehead
Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust
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Tim Harrison
De Montfort University - City Campus
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Abstract

ABSTRACT Rationale, aims and objectives The primary aim of the study was to understand the mindset of doctors and pharmacists, as they embark upon prescribing in a polypharmacy and multi-morbidity context during routine practice at a hospital acute admissions unit. The study also aimed to evaluate to what extent attitudes, embedded within real-life decision-making scenarios, relate to existing theory and models of prescribing decisions. Methods Anonymised case studies were identified from the medical notes of patients aged 65 and over with conditions likely to be associated with multi-morbidity, medication issues and polypharmacy: namely: fall, urinary tract infection, confusion or lower respiratory tract infection. A total of 39 doctors based on the acute medical admissions unit and 9 pharmacists were recruited to one of three focus groups. Patient case-studies provided the context for discussion from which verbatim transcripts were thematically analysed using an interpretative, qualitative approach. Sub-themes were matched to Murshid and Mohaidin’s proposed model of physician prescribing decisions. Results Seven principal themes were identified that were associated with prescribing decisions on the acute medical unit, namely, ‘patient characteristics’, ‘drug characteristics’, ‘pharmacist factors’, ‘trustworthiness’, ’reliability of medication history, ‘competing pressures and priorities’ and ‘responsibilities of prescribers’. Conclusion Prescribing decisions on the acute medical admissions unit were influenced by a variety of factors, some of which have already been acknowledged within existing theories and models. The findings provisionally offer new insights, which, subject to confirmation by further research, bring to light three attitudinal characteristics that may impact negatively upon the quality of prescribing decisions. These include, first, how perceived poor reliability of medication history may result in information gaps that compromise prescribing decisions; second, how competing pressures and priorities restrict doctors’ aptitude to conduct a review of medication and finally, how doctors may rationalise the assignment of medication review to the GP.
27 Jul 2020Submitted to Journal of Evaluation in Clinical Practice
28 Jul 2020Submission Checks Completed
28 Jul 2020Assigned to Editor
30 Jul 2020Reviewer(s) Assigned
18 Sep 2020Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
18 Sep 2020Editorial Decision: Revise Major
04 Nov 20201st Revision Received
06 Nov 2020Submission Checks Completed
06 Nov 2020Assigned to Editor
06 Nov 2020Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
10 Nov 2020Editorial Decision: Accept
12 Dec 2020Published in Journal of Evaluation in Clinical Practice. 10.1111/jep.13519