ArticlePrimary health care research & development2018
Elderly patients' and GPs' perspectives of patient-GP communication concerning polypharmacy: a qualitative interview study.
Article in Primary health care research & development, 2018. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 20 papers, 5 of them syntheses that pooled it.
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Who cites it
20 citing papers in PubMed, 5 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.
- Older Patients' Verbal Communication in Interactions With Primary Care Staff: A Qualitative Systematic Review and Meta-Ethnography.Health expectations : an international journal of public participation in health care and health policy · 2025Pooled it
- Communication Processes Related to Decision-Making in Medication Management Between Healthcare Providers, Older People and Their Carers: A Systematic Review.Health expectations : an international journal of public participation in health care and health policy · 2025Pooled it
- Attributes of family physician encounters valued by older adults: a systematic review.BMC primary care · 2025Pooled it
- Exploring medication self-management in polypharmacy: a qualitative systematic review of patients and healthcare providers perspectives.Frontiers in pharmacology · 2024Pooled it
- Medication-related experiences of patients with polypharmacy: a systematic review of qualitative studies.BMJ open · 2020Pooled it
- A concept analysis of patient participation in medication safety among older adults with stroke in China: a hybrid model.BMC geriatrics · 2026Article
- A Review of Risk Factors for Polypharmacy: Age, Level of Education, and Physician's Attitude.Cureus · 2024Review
- Defining, identifying and addressing problematic polypharmacy within multimorbidity in primary care: a scoping review.BMJ open · 2024Article
- Knowledge, attitudes and beliefs toward polypharmacy among older people attending Family Medicine Clinic, Nairobi, Kenya.BMC geriatrics · 2024Article
- Disentangling concepts of inappropriate polypharmacy in old age: a scoping review.BMC public health · 2023Article
- Development of a shared decision-making intervention to improve drug safety and to reduce polypharmacy in frail elderly patients living at home.PEC innovation · 2022Article
- Factors which influence the deprescribing decisions of community-living older adults and GPs in Australia.Health & social care in the community · 2022Article
- Deprescribing medicines in older people living with multimorbidity and polypharmacy: the TAILOR evidence synthesis.Health technology assessment (Winchester, England) · 2022Review
- Experiences of patients receiving Home Care and living with polypharmacy: a qualitative interview study.BJGP open · 2022Article
- Patient values and preferences on polypharmacy and deprescribing: a scoping review.International journal of clinical pharmacy · 2021Article
- Deprescribing for all: a narrative review identifying inappropriate polypharmacy for all ages in hospital settings.BMJ open quality · 2021Review
- Polypharmacy Management in the Older Adults: A Scoping Review of Available Interventions.Frontiers in pharmacology · 2021Article
- Acceptability of a Novel Telemedication Review for Older Adults in Nursing Homes in France: A Qualitative Study.Clinical interventions in aging · 2021Article
- Article
- Deprescribing medications for older adults in the primary care context: A mixed studies review.Health science reports · 2018Article
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Authors and funding
4 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
AimThe aim of this study was to explore elderly patients' and general practitioners' (GPs') perceptions of communication about polypharmacy, medication safety and approaches for empowerment.
backgroundTo manage polypharmacy, GPs need to know patients' real medication consumption. However, previous research has shown that patients do not always volunteer all information about their medication regimen, for example, such as the intake of over-the-counter medication or the alteration or discontinuation of prescribed medication.
methodA qualitative interview study including patients of at least 65 years old with polypharmacy (⩾5 medications) and their GPs in a German Primary Healthcare Centre. The transcripts from the semi-structured interviews (n=6 with patients; n=3 with GPs) were analysed using a framework analytical approach.FindingsWe identified three themes: differing medication plans: causes?; dialogue concerning medication: whose responsibility?; supporting patients' engagement: how? While GPs stated that patients do not always report or might even conceal information, all patients reported that they could speak openly about everything with their GPs. In this context, trust might act as a double-edged sword, as it can promote open communication but also prevent patients from asking questions. Both GPs and patients could name very few ways in which patients could be supported to become more informed and active in communication concerning polypharmacy and medication safety.
conclusionThis study shows that patients' awareness of the significance of their active role in addressing polypharmacy needs to be increased. This includes understanding that trusting the doctor does not preclude asking questions or seeking more information. Thus, interventions which improve patients' communication skills and address specific issues of polypharmacy, particularly in elderly patients, should be designed. GPs might support patients by 'inviting' their contribution.
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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.