Anxiety, Insomnia
Conditions
Keywords
Education, Geriatric, Benzodiazepine, Prevalence
Brief summary
The overall goal of this research is to develop and test strategies to decrease potentially inappropriate medication use among the elderly.
Detailed description
Specifically, the purpose of the study is to determine whether direct patient education is effective in decreasing benzodiazepine use in seniors.
Interventions
BEHAVIORALEducational booklet
Participants in the intervention group will receive an 8-page booklet that includes a list of generic and brand benzodiazepine names, benzodiazepine medication knowledge test, information about the associated risks of benzodiazepine use, and a list of safe alternative to their potentially inappropriate medication, as well as a stepwise tapering method. Recommendations to discuss decreasing use of benzodiazepines with physicians as well as to consult physicians before stopping any medication are also advised in the booklet. Participants in the control group will receive a booklet, produced by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, containing information regarding the important of exercise for seniors.
Sponsors
University of Vermont
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
HEALTH_SERVICES_RESEARCH
Masking
TRIPLE (Subject, Investigator, Outcomes Assessor)
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
60 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
* Men and women * Full benefit members living in a SASH facility * 60 years old or older * Using at least 1 active short/medium/long acting benzodiazepine at time of recruitment
Exclusion criteria
* Inability to provide consent * Inability to communicate in English * Diagnosis of severe mental illness, dementia, seizure disorder
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Benzodiazepine or non-benzodiazepine hypnotic medication use | Baseline and 6 months post-intervention | Proportion of subjects using benzodiazepine or non-benzodiazepine hypnotic medication (such as zolpidem) |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Patient attempt to discontinuing benzodiazepine | 1 month and 6 months post-intervention | Novel patient reported measure regarding attempts to discontinue medication |
| Patient knowledge regarding benzodiazepines | Baseline and 6 months post-intervention | Novel patient reported measure regarding knowledge of the potential risks and benefits of benzodiazepines |
| Belief about Medicines Questionnaire (BMQ) | Baseline and 6 months post-intervention | This is a validated instrument assessing patient beliefs regarding medication efficacy and safety |
Outcome results
None listed