Empowering Elderly Veterans to Reduce Benzodiazepine and Sedative Hypnotic Use through Direct to Consumer Education Tyler Billings, Courtney Goodman Salisbury VA Medical Center - Salisbury, NC
Background/Purpose: Benzodiazepines (BZDs) and sedative-hypnotics (SDHs) are classes of medications commonly prescribed for the treatment of anxiety and/or sleep disturbances. Use of these agents is of growing concern, particularly in older adults, given their associations with a variety of adverse outcomes. Direct-to-consumer education (DTCE) interventions have demonstrated to be an effect tool at reducing benzodiazepine use in the elderly. The purpose of this quality improvement project is to determine the effectiveness and sustainability of a DTCE intervention in reducing BZD and SDH use in Veterans ages 75 or greater receiving primary care services within the Salisbury VA Health Care System (SVAHCS).
Methodology: Patients are identified using a nationally generated report through the VA Academic Detailing Service (EMPOWER Mail Merge Report). Eligible patients are Veterans ages 75 or greater who have one or more active and chronic (120 days or more) BZD and/or SDH prescriptions written by a primary care provider within the SVAHCS. Patients are sent DTCE within one month preceding a clinic appointment detailing the risks of BZD and SDH use. A follow-up survey is sent to the provider to determine if the patient initiated a conversation about reducing/stopping the medication and if this resulted in a dose reduction or discontinuation.
Presentation Objective: Describe how a direct-to-consumer education intervention may influence the continued use of medications with well-known risks.
Self-Assessment: What is one intervention that can be made to help reduce the frequency of adverse events associated with benzodiazepines and sedative-hypnotics?
