Engaging general practice and patients with AusTAPER, a pharmacist facilitated web-based deprescribing tool

Abstract

The objective of this study was to explore the Australian general practitioner (GP) and patient experience of AusTAPER, a pharmacist facilitated web-based deprescribing tool, within a pilot implementation of the tool. This qualitative study of experiences of using AusTAPER in clinical practice used one-on-one interviews with patients (≥70 years, taking ≥5 medicines) and GPs. Thematic content analyses for patients and GPs were triangulated to synthesise findings. Nine patients and two GPs responded. Three main themes arose from the synthesised results: ‘engagement of GPs and patients’; ‘pharmacist as central’; and ‘patient outcomes’. AusTAPER prompted qualitative deprescribing and was acceptable to both GPs and patients. Patients appreciated medicines being monitored by pharmacists. There was evidence of synergy of GP and pharmacist opinion in facilitating patient understanding and shared decision-making. These qualitative findings provide evidence that AusTAPER engaged GPs and patients and prompted judicious medicine review and deprescribing.