Multimodal Educative Data Feedback for Deprescribing Benzodiazepine (BZD) and Related Drugs in Outpatients: a Cluster Randomized Controlled Study

Benzodiazepine (BZD) and related drugs are sedative anxiolytics and hypnotics that should be avoided especially in people aged 65 years and older, given the high risk of falling, fracture, dependence, respiratory depression and cognitive disorders. Despite these contraindications, their consumption continues to increase in Switzerland.

Although it can be assumed that deprescribing a drug has a direct benefit, it is nevertheless necessary to determine how to implement this process effectively and safely. To change healthcare professionals' prescribing behaviours for BZD, the most common deprescribing interventions include identification of appropriate patients, education and training of GPs and patients, and gradual and appropriate reduction of the dose of BZD. Thus, the DELTA CARE NETWORK and the DELTA VAUD CARE NETWORK have set themselves the task of evaluating the effectiveness of a multimodal deprescribing intervention for Delta primary care physicians and their patients aged 65 and over, in the cantons of Geneva and Vaud. The goal is to reduce the total BZD prescription rate among this population.

This quality development project is fully in line with the Quality Federal Commission's objectives of efficiency, safety, patient-centred and in the interests of the patient.