TY - JOUR T1 - GPs’ mindlines on deprescribing antihypertensives in older patients with multimorbidity: a qualitative study in English general practice JF - British Journal of General Practice JO - Br J Gen Pract SP - e498 LP - e507 DO - 10.3399/bjgp21X714305 VL - 71 IS - 708 AU - Karolina Kuberska AU - Fiona Scheibl AU - Carol Sinnott AU - James P Sheppard AU - Mark Lown AU - Marney Williams AU - Rupert A Payne AU - Jonathan Mant AU - Richard J McManus AU - Jenni Burt Y1 - 2021/07/01 UR - http://bjgp.org/content/71/708/e498.abstract N2 - Background Optimal management of hypertension in older patients with multimorbidity is a cornerstone of primary care practice. Despite emphasis on personalised approaches to treatment in older patients, there is little guidance on how to achieve medication reduction when GPs are concerned that possible risks outweigh potential benefits of treatment. Mindlines — tacit, internalised guidelines developed over time from multiple sources — may be of particular importance in such situations.Aim To explore GPs’ decision-making on deprescribing antihypertensives in patients with multimorbidity aged ≥80 years, drawing on the concept of mindlines.Design and setting Qualitative interview study set in English general practice.Method Thematic analysis of face-to-face interviews with a sample of 15 GPs from seven practices in the East of England, using a chart-stimulated recall approach to explore approaches to treatment for older patients with multimorbidity with hypertension.Results GPs are typically confident making decisions to deprescribe antihypertensive medication in older patients with multimorbidity when prompted by a trigger, such as a fall or adverse drug event. GPs are less confident to attempt deprescribing in response to generalised concerns about polypharmacy, and work hard to make sense of multiple sources (including available evidence, shared experiential knowledge, and non-clinical factors) to guide decision-making.Conclusion In the absence of a clear evidence base on when and how to attempt medication reduction in response to concerns about polypharmacy, GPs develop ‘mindlines’ over time through practicebased experience. These tacit approaches to making complex decisions are critical to developing confidence to attempt deprescribing and may be strengthened through reflective practice. ER -