Medication Use and Quality of Life Among Older People (Pilot)

In a pragmatic randomized controlled trial, this project will test whether a comprehensive and patient-centered deprescribing intervention can improve quality of life among older people with limited life expectancy. This registration concerns the initial pilot study. All patients included in the pilot study will receive the intervention (that is, the pilot study will not include randomization).

The intervention will comprise a series of consultations between the patient and general practitioner (GP) (at least three) to continuously adjust the patient's medication according to the patient's goals, needs, and preferences, thereby ensuring alignment with the patient's priorities. Thus, the purpose of this intervention is to initiate and facilitate a continued deprescribing process. The process can be summarized in seven steps: During an initial consultation (1: Consultation 0), the GP assesses patient eligibility. If the patient would like to participate, a project nurse subsequently visits the patient at home (2: Home visit) for retrieval of informed consent as well as baseline measurements. During the next consultation (3: Consultation 1), the patient and GP discuss how the patient feels about his/her medical treatment, and the GP provides the patient with written material for the patient to prepare prior to the next consultation. The patients prepares (4: Preparation) by considering and verbalizing his/her goals of care and treatment preferences. Simultaneously, a clinical pharmacist examines the patient's medication list and provides suggestions to the GP on which drugs can be continued and deprescribed, respectively. During the next consultation (5: Consultation 2), the patient and GP discuss the patient's preferences and initiate deprescribing initiatives aligned with the patient's priorities. During a new consultation (6: Consultation 3), the patient and GP follow up on the changes initiated and initiate new deprescribing initiatives if such can be identified. If needed, subsequent consultations (7: Consultation X) are planned until the patient and GP consider the patient's medical treatment optimal.

Inclusion criteria

• Aged ≥80 years
• Take ≥8 different medications
• Have a life expectancy of <2 years, estimated via the Surprise Question ("Would you be surprised if this patient died within 1-2 years?") by the general practitioner
• Have a Mini-Mental State Exam (MMSE) score of ≥15
• Are able to provide informed consent

Exclusion criteria

• Not able to communicate
• Does not speak and understand Danish