Effectiveness of a Joint General Practitioner-Pharmacist Intervention on Benzodiazepine Deprescribing in the Elderly

Launched by NANTES UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL · Mar 9, 2023

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This clinical trial is studying how a teamwork approach between general practitioners (GPs) and pharmacists can help elderly patients safely reduce or stop taking benzodiazepines, which are medications often used for anxiety and sleep issues. These medications can have serious side effects in older adults, such as increased risk of falls, confusion, and even dementia. The goal of the trial is to see if working together, GPs and pharmacists can create better outcomes for patients by helping them manage their medication use more effectively.

To be eligible for this study, participants must be outpatients aged 65 and older who have been prescribed benzodiazepines at least four times in the past year, with their last prescription within the last three months. They should also be able to communicate and participate in interviews. Unfortunately, those living in care facilities or with certain medical conditions may not be eligible. Participants can expect to work closely with their GP and pharmacist, who will help guide them through the process of reducing or stopping their medications safely. This study is important because it aims to improve the health and well-being of elderly patients by addressing the issues related to long-term use of these medications.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • outpatients aged 65 and over
• • followed by the general practitioner and the pharmacist of the GP-PO pair
• • having a prescription for an anxiolytic or hypnotic BZDR prescribed at least 4 times in the past year
• • the last prescription being less than 3 months old
• • having been dispensed monthly during the last 3 months
• • affiliated to a social security scheme
• • and having given consent to participate in the research.
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • patients living in an institution
• • participating in a clinical trial
• • with epilepsy
• • active depression
• • uncontrolled mental disorders
• • unable to participate in an interview or answer a questionnaire (demented, non-French speaking, illiterate, deaf, ...)
• • under guardianship
• • with a dystonic syndrome
• • and patients who are not sufficiently autonomous to carry out the steps inherent in the study