Impact of Patient Education on Benzodiazepine Use in the Elderly

Study Overview
=================
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.

Official Title
-----------------
Impact of Patient Education on Benzodiazepine Use in the Elderly

Conditions
-----------------
Anxiety, Insomnia

Intervention / Treatment
-----------------
* Behavioral: Educational booklet


Participation Criteria
=================
Eligibility Criteria
-----------------
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

Ages Eligible for Study
-----------------
Minimum Age: 60 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
-----------------
All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
-----------------
Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Study Plan
=================
How is the study designed?
-----------------

Design Details

Primary Purpose: Health Services Research
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: Triple


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Experimental: Experimental group<br>Group to receive educational booklet regarding risk/benefits of Benzodiazepine. | Behavioral: Educational booklet<br>* 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.<br>|
| No Intervention: Control group<br>Group to receive educational booklet regarding risk/benefits of exercise. | |

What is the study measuring?
-----------------
Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Benzodiazepine or non-benzodiazepine hypnotic medication use | Proportion of subjects using benzodiazepine or non-benzodiazepine hypnotic medication (such as zolpidem) | Baseline and 6 months post-intervention | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Patient attempt to discontinuing benzodiazepine | Novel patient reported measure regarding attempts to discontinue medication | 1 month and 6 months post-intervention | 
| Patient knowledge regarding benzodiazepines | Novel patient reported measure regarding knowledge of the potential risks and benefits of benzodiazepines | Baseline and 6 months post-intervention | 
| Belief about Medicines Questionnaire (BMQ) | This is a validated instrument assessing patient beliefs regarding medication efficacy and safety | Baseline and 6 months post-intervention | 

 Terms related to the study
=================
Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
-----------------
Education, Geriatric, Benzodiazepine, Prevalence