1. Acta Clin Belg. 2014 May 29:2295333714Y0000000036. [Epub ahead of print]

Views of general practitioners on the use of STOPP&START in primary care: a
qualitative study.

Dalleur O, Feron JM, Spinewine A.

Background and objective: STOPP (Screening Tool of Older Person's Prescriptions) 
and START (Screening Tool to Alert Doctors to Right Treatment) criteria aim at
detecting potentially inappropriate prescribing in older people. The objective
was to explore general practitioners' (GPs) perceptions regarding the use of the 
STOPP&START tool in their practice. Design: We conducted three focus groups which
were conveniently sampled. Vignettes with clinical cases were provided for
discussion as well as a full version of the STOPP&START tool. Knowledge,
strengths and weaknesses of the tool and its implementation were discussed. Two
researchers independently performed content analysis, classifying quotes and
creating new categories for emerging themes. Results: Discussions highlighted
incentives (e.g. systematic procedure for medication review) and barriers (e.g.
time-consuming application) influencing the use of STOPP&START in primary care.
Usefulness, comprehensiveness, and relevance of the tool were also questioned.
Another important category emerging from the content analysis was the projected
use of the tool. The GPs imagined key elements for the implementation in daily
practice: computerized clinical decision support system, education, and
multidisciplinary collaborations, especially at care transitions and in nursing
homes. Conclusion: Despite variables views on the usefulness, comprehensiveness, 
and relevance of STOPP&START, GPs suggest the implementation of this tool in
primary care within computerized clinical decision support systems, through
education, and used as part of multidisciplinary collaborations.

PMID: 24871254  [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]