Effecting change in prescribing patterns

Benzodiazepine use in elderly patients is associated with increased risk of falls and fractures, motor vehicle accidents and other problems. Researchers reporting in this issue of CMAJ say an intervention program designed to help eliminate inappropriate prescribing of these drugs had no effect on prescribing patterns. A similar education program recently lowered antibiotic prescribing.

Nicholas Pimlott and colleagues provided individualized feedback and education to a group of primary care physicians. Members of this intervention group received confidential profiles of benzodiazepine prescription use and evidence-based educational bulletins, while the control group received feedback and educational bulletins about first-line antihypertension drug prescribing for elderly patients. The authors found no change in the prescribing patterns of physicians due to the enhanced information.

Inappropriate prescribing of benzodiazepine-type drugs is considered a significant issue because of the impact long-term use of the drugs can have on the elderly.

p. 835 Educating physicians to reduce benzodiazepine use by elderly patients: a randomized controlled trial
— N.J.G. Pimlott et al

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