Are pharmacists' knowledge and practice the key to promoting deprescribing of potentially inappropriate medication: a missing link between treatment and outcomes.

The article focuses on evaluating community pharmacists’ knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding deprescribing potentially inappropriate medications in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Deprescribing is defined as the planned and supervised process of reducing or stopping medications that may be unnecessary or harmful, particularly in older adults with polypharmacy. The study surveyed 677 pharmacists across Abu Dhabi, Dubai, and the Northern Emirates, finding that while most had received training and demonstrated moderate knowledge and practice (average score 71.3%), less than half recognized certain drug classes (e.g., long-acting sulfonylureas, antihyperlipidemics, psychotropics) as candidates for deprescribing. Key barriers identified included patient resistance, lack of time, insufficient knowledge, and challenges related to medications prescribed by other doctors. The findings highlight the need for enhanced pharmacist education, interprofessional collaboration, and patient engagement to improve deprescribing practices and medication safety in the UAE community pharmacy setting.