General practitioners' preferences regarding medication reviews by community pharmacists for patients with polypharmacy in Belgium

Manon De Montigny, Olivia Dalleur, Thérèse Van Durme

Keywords: General practitioners, Community Pharmacists, Polymedication, Medication Reviews, Collaboration

Background:

To enhance prescribing appropriateness, international guidelines advocate for medication reviews (MedRev) for people with polypharmacy. Since April 2023, the National Institute for Health and Disability Insurance (NIHDI) has allocated funding for community pharmacists (CPs) to conduct MedRev for patients meeting specific criteria: five or more chronically reimbursed drugs, possessions of a global medical file with a general practitioner (GP) and with a designated reference CP. CPs are expected to perform MedRev and provide online observations and recommendations to their GP. However, little is known about the communication channels between GPs and CPs in the recommendations of the MedRev.

Research questions:

What are GPs' preferences regarding medication reviews by CPs?
Which are the most effective communication channels? What type of recommendation would the GP be interested in receiving? How do the GPs wish to be involved in the process? Who selects the eligible patients? Who discusses potential changes with patients?

Method:

An anonymous online survey was distributed in French and in Dutch to active Belgian GPs at the end of 2023 via an online questionnaire . The survey aims to gather quantitative data on GPs’ preferences regarding the collaboration with CPs for MedRev. The collected data will be analysed using SPSS, employing both descriptive and inferential statistics in early 2024. The study’s results will be presented at the congress.

Results:

This study seeks to elucidate the specific information GPs require to adapt their prescribing practices based on CP recommendations.

Conclusions:

These findings will contribute to a better understanding of the content and format of medication reviews, aiding primary care providers and policymakers.

Points for discussion:

How can patients be properly involved in the process?

Are the Belgian GPs ready for this collaboration?

What about collaborating with other prescribers?

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