Table 3 Alert Interventions to decrease benzodiazepine use
Study | Location | Intervention Design: Alert Interventions targeted at GPs | Study Design and Size | Result | Follow up |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Simon et al, 2006 [72] | USA - Oregon & Washington | 1 = age Specific (> 65 years) alert for long acting BZs. 2 = alerts + academic detailing (group education + follow-up letter). | Cluster randomized trial 239 clinicians | No sig decrease in prescribing to elderly. No difference between alerts (decrease of 3.0 dispensed medications per 10,000 members) and alerts + academic detailing (decrease of 19.7 dispensed medications per 10,000) | 18 months post intervention |
Monane et al, 1998 [73] | America | 1 = age specific (> 65 years) alert system at pharmacy (mail order and retail). If medication is deemed to be inappropriate then conversation between pharmacist and prescriber occurred. 2 = control. | Population based cohort 2.3 million people >65 years filled a script during study period | Sig difference between intervention (40% of cases) and control (2%) for the change of prescriptions for long acting BZs. Sig difference between control (2%) and intervention (25%) for change to prescriptions of short acting BZs that exceeded the maximum daily dose. | 1 year study (measured total number of changes over 1 year) |