Self-Perceived Competencies, Knowledge, Skills, and Attitudes of Healthcare Professional Students in Deprescribing: A National Survey
(2026) Journal of General Internal Medicine — (2026)
Files
260908 Ackermans L, J Gen Intern Med, 2026.pdf
Open Access - Adobe PDF
- 2.49 MB
Details
- Authors
Ackermans, Laudine 
- Abstract
- BACKGROUND: Deprescribing effectively reduces over-prescribing but remains underused in clinical practice. Education is key to improving uptake, yet limited research has examined how future healthcare professionals are being prepared. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the extent to which current education prepares future Belgian healthcare professionals for deprescribing and to identify factors associated with higher self-perceived competency. DESIGN: Cross-sectional online survey between April and June 2024. PARTICIPANTS: Undergraduate and postgraduate students in medicine, pharmacy, and nursing from Belgian universities and nursing schools. MAIN MEASURES: Self-perceived competencies (7 items), knowledge and skills (19 items) were assessed using items from Farrell's framework, and attitudes were measured using 25 items from a Theoretical Domains Framework-based questionnaire. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and linear regressions, with composite compe-tency scores as outcomes and curriculum level, clinical experience, and deprescribing exposure as predictors. Open-ended responses were thematically coded. KEY RESULTS: A total of 1777 responses were included (509 in medicine, 792 in pharmacy, and 476 in nursing). Exposure to deprescribing within the curriculum was
- Affiliations
Citations
Ackermans, L., Van Durme, T., De Saint-Hubert, M., Guisset, S., Van Leeuwen, E., Coteur, K., Tommelein, E., Philippe, G., Dilles, T., Verschuren, S., De Vriese, C., Patris, S., Siriez, R., Vanpee, D., & Spinewine, A. (2026). Self-Perceived Competencies, Knowledge, Skills, and Attitudes of Healthcare Professional Students in Deprescribing: A National Survey. Journal of General Internal Medicine. Published. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11606-026-10724-9 (Original work published 2026)