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Alberto-Armas D, Rubio-Armendáriz C, Hernández-García V, Santana-Ayala JR, Hardisson-de-la-Torre A, Román-Castillo Y. [Pharmaceutical Interventions in Benzodiazepine users during the COVID-19 Pandemic]. FARMACEUTICOS COMUNITARIOS 2024; 16:29-36. [PMID: 39156032 PMCID: PMC11329726 DOI: 10.33620/fc.2173-9218.(2024).09] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2023] [Accepted: 02/03/2024] [Indexed: 08/20/2024]
Abstract
Introduction Pharmaceutical Intervention aims to optimize and rationalize the use, effectiveness, and safety of dispensed medications resolving drug-related problems (DRPs) and negative medicine outcomes (NMOs). Objectives To evaluate Pharmaceutical Interventions in Benzodiazepines users during the COVID-19 pandemic from a Community Pharmacy. Method Prospective observational, descriptive, and cross-sectional study (AEMPS code: DAA-CLO-2020-01) of Pharmaceutical Interventions offered by the community pharmacy between August 2020 and February 2021. Results A total of 306 Pharmaceutical Interventions were conducted involving 127 patients. Health education and personalized medication information were the most common Pharmaceutical Interventions after detecting a high level of unfamiliarity with the Benzodiazepines among patients. Pharmaceutical Interventions leading to medical referrals accounted for 37.8% of the total, triggered by the detection of DRPs and/or NMOs or after identifying the patient as candidate for deprescription. These referrals included patients with a very high level of depression according to the Euroqol 5D-3L test. Pharmaceutical Interventions resulting in Medication Review with Follow-up Service were performed in 3.1% of patients. The patient acceptance rate of Pharmaceutical Interventions reached 98.4%. Conclusions The high acceptance rate of Pharmaceutical Interventions reinforces the value of Community Pharmacy in optimizing and rationalizing Benzodiazepines usage, while strengthening the pharmacist-patient relationship. The COVID-19 pandemic posed challenges to pharmacist-physician collaboration despite of the availability of telecommunication protocols among healthcare professionals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daida Alberto-Armas
- Doctora en Ciencias Médicas y Farmacéuticas, Desarrollo y Calidad de Vida. Área de Toxicología. Universidad de La Laguna. Farmacéutica Comunitaria en San Cristóbal de La Laguna.Universidad de La LagunaEspaña
| | - Carmen Rubio-Armendáriz
- Catedrática de Toxicología. Profesora Titular del Área de Toxicología de la Universidad de La LagunaUniversidad de La LagunaEspaña
| | - Verónica Hernández-García
- Doctora en Ciencias Médicas y Farmacéuticas, Desarrollo y Calidad de VidaUniversidad de La LagunaEspaña
| | - Juan Ramón Santana-Ayala
- Área de Toxicología. Universidad de La Laguna. Farmacéutico Comunitario Universidad de La LagunaEspaña
| | - Arturo Hardisson-de-la-Torre
- Catedrático de Toxicología. Profesor Titular del Área de Toxicología de la Universidad de La LagunaUniversidad de La LagunaEspaña
| | - Yanira Román-Castillo
- Diplomada en Enfermería. Hospital Nuestra Señora de la Candelaria. Santa Cruz de Tenerife.Hospital Nuestra Señora de la CandelariaEspaña
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Bjelkarøy MT, Simonsen TB, Siddiqui TG, Halset S, Cheng S, Grambaite R, Benth JŠ, Gerwing J, Kristoffersen ES, Lundqvist C. Brief Intervention as a Method to Reduce Z-Hypnotic Use by Older Adults: Feasibility Case Series. JMIR Form Res 2024; 8:e51862. [PMID: 38329779 PMCID: PMC10884901 DOI: 10.2196/51862] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2023] [Revised: 01/06/2024] [Accepted: 01/18/2024] [Indexed: 02/09/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Z-hypnotics or z-drugs are commonly prescribed for insomnia and sleep difficulties in older adults. These drugs are associated with adverse events and dependence and are not recommended for long-term use. Despite evidence of older adults being more sensitive to a wide array of adverse events and clinical guidelines advocating limiting use, inappropriate use in this population is still prevalent. Previous intervention studies have focused mainly on prescriber information. Simple, individually focused intervention designs are less studied. Brief intervention (BI) is a simple, easily transferable method mainly used to treat patients at risk of alcohol overuse. OBJECTIVE Our objective was to design and test the feasibility and acceptability of a BI intervention adapted to address individual, inappropriate use of z-hypnotics among older adults. This preparatory study aimed to optimize the intervention in advance of a quantitative randomized controlled trial investigating the treatment effect in a larger population. METHODS This feasibility case series was conducted at Akershus University Hospital, Norway, in autumn 2021. We included 5 adults aged ≥65 years with long-term (≥4 weeks) use of z-hypnotics and 2 intervening physicians. Additionally, 2 study investigators contributed with process evaluation notes. The BI consists of information on the risk of inappropriate use and individualized advice on how to reduce use. The focus of the intervention is behavioral and aims, in cooperation with the patient and based on shared decision-making, to change patient behavior regarding sleep medication rather than physician-based detoxification and termination of z-hypnotic prescriptions. Qualitative and descriptive quantitative data were collected from intervening physicians, study investigators, and participants at baseline, immediately after the intervention, and at the 6-week follow-up. RESULTS Data were obtained from 2 physicians, 2 study investigators, and 5 participants (4 women) with a median age of 84 years. The average time spent on the BI consultation was 15 minutes. All 5 participants completed the intervention without problems. The participants and 2 intervening physicians reported the intervention as acceptable and were satisfied with the delivery of the intervention. After the intervention, 2 participants stopped their use of z-hypnotics completely and participated in the follow-up interview. Study investigators identified logistical challenges regarding location and time requirements. Identified aspects that may improve the intervention and reduce dropouts included revising the intervention content, focusing on rebound insomnia, adding an information leaflet, and supporting the patient in the period between the intervention and follow-up. The notion that the intervention should best be located and conducted by the patient's own general practitioner was supported by the participants. CONCLUSIONS We identified important aspects to improve the designed intervention and found that the BI is feasible and acceptable for incorporation into a larger randomized trial investigating the treatment effect of BI for reducing z-hypnotic use by older adults. TRIAL REGISTRATION ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03162081; http://tinyurl.com/rmzx6brn.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Torheim Bjelkarøy
- Institute of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, Campus Ahus, Lørenskog, Norway
- Health Services Research Unit Helsetjenesteforskning, Akershus University Hosptial, Lørenskog, Norway
| | - Tone Breines Simonsen
- Health Services Research Unit Helsetjenesteforskning, Akershus University Hosptial, Lørenskog, Norway
| | - Tahreem Ghazal Siddiqui
- Institute of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, Campus Ahus, Lørenskog, Norway
- Health Services Research Unit Helsetjenesteforskning, Akershus University Hosptial, Lørenskog, Norway
| | - Sigrid Halset
- Department of Geriatrics, Akershus University Hospital, Lørenskog, Norway
| | - Socheat Cheng
- Institute of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, Campus Ahus, Lørenskog, Norway
- Health Services Research Unit Helsetjenesteforskning, Akershus University Hosptial, Lørenskog, Norway
| | - Ramune Grambaite
- Health Services Research Unit Helsetjenesteforskning, Akershus University Hosptial, Lørenskog, Norway
- Department of Psychology, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Jūratė Šaltytė Benth
- Institute of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, Campus Ahus, Lørenskog, Norway
- Health Services Research Unit Helsetjenesteforskning, Akershus University Hosptial, Lørenskog, Norway
| | - Jennifer Gerwing
- Health Services Research Unit Helsetjenesteforskning, Akershus University Hosptial, Lørenskog, Norway
| | - Espen Saxhaug Kristoffersen
- Department of Neurology, Akershus University Hospital, Lørenskog, Norway
- Department of General Practice, Institute of Health and Society, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Christofer Lundqvist
- Institute of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, Campus Ahus, Lørenskog, Norway
- Health Services Research Unit Helsetjenesteforskning, Akershus University Hosptial, Lørenskog, Norway
- Department of Neurology, Akershus University Hospital, Lørenskog, Norway
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Bolibar Ribas B, Llobera-Cànaves J, García-Ortiz L, Bellón JÁ, Ramos R, García-Campayo J, Sánchez-Pérez Á, Claveria A, Martínez V, Vicens E, Minué C, Gil-Guillen V, Berenguera A, Moleras-Serra A. [The Research Network on Preventive Activities and Health Promotion (redIAPP): a reference network and promoter of primary care research]. Aten Primaria 2023; 55:102694. [PMID: 37481824 PMCID: PMC10391719 DOI: 10.1016/j.aprim.2023.102694] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2023] [Revised: 05/14/2023] [Accepted: 05/21/2023] [Indexed: 07/25/2023] Open
Abstract
The Research Network on Preventive Activities and Health Promotion (redIAPP), a reference network and promoter of primary care research was created in 2003 thanks to the program Thematic Networks for Cooperative Research in Health (RETICS) of the Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII). Its creation has meant a radical change in the situation of research in primary care. Throughout its 19 years (2003-2021), different research groups and autonomous communities have participated, and different lines of research have been developed with numerous projects and publications. Despite the difficulties suffered, it has created a collaborative research experience between different autonomous communities with great vitality and with important results for primary care. The redIAPP, therefore, has been a great reference for research in primary care and for the deepening of its area of knowledge. Several lines of improvement are suggested for the future of primary care research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bonaventura Bolibar Ribas
- Fundació Institut Universitari per a la recerca a l'Atenció Primària de Salut Jordi Gol i Gurina (IDIAPJGol), Barcelona, España; Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, España
| | - Joan Llobera-Cànaves
- Unitat de Recerca en Atenció Primaria de Mallorca, Servei de Salut de les Illes Balears (Ib-Salut), Palma, España; Institut de Investigació Sanitària de les Illes Balears (IdISBa), Hospital Universitari Son Espases, Palma, España
| | - Luis García-Ortiz
- Unidad de Investigación en Atención Primaria de Salamanca (APISAL), Gerencia de Atención Primaria de Salamanca, Gerencia Regional de salud de Castilla y León (SACyL), Salamanca, España; Instituto de investigación Biomédica de Salamanca (IBSAL), Salamanca, España; Departamento de Ciencias Biomédicas y del Diagnóstico, Universidad de Salamanca, Salamanca, España
| | - Juan-Ángel Bellón
- Instituto de Investigación Biomédica de Málaga (IBIMA Plataforma BIONAND), Málaga, España; Centro de Salud El Palo, Servicio Andaluz de Salud (SAS), Málaga, España; Departmento de Salud Pública y Psiquiatría, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Málaga (UMA), Málaga, España
| | - Rafel Ramos
- Fundació Institut Universitari per a la recerca a l'Atenció Primària de Salut Jordi Gol i Gurina (IDIAPJGol), Barcelona, España; Grup de Recerca en Salut Vascular, Institut d'Investigació Biomèdica de Girona (IdibGi), Parc Hospitalari Martí Julià, Girona, España; Department de Ciències Mèdiques, Facultat de Medicina, Campus Salut, Universitat de Girona, Girona, España; Atenció Primària, Institut Català de la Salut, Girona, Catalonia, España
| | - Javier García-Campayo
- Grupo de Aragón en Investigación en Atención Primaria (GAIAP), Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria de Aragón (IIS Aragón), Zaragoza, España; Servicio de Psiquiatría, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Zaragoza, Zaragoza, España
| | - Álvaro Sánchez-Pérez
- Unidad de Investigación Atención Primaria de Bizkaia, Subdirección para la Coordinación de la Atención Primaria, Dirección General Osakidetza, Bilbao, España; Grupo de Investigación en Ciencias de la Diseminación e Implementación en Servicios Sanitarios, Instituto Investigación Biocruces Bizkaia, Barakaldo, España
| | - Ana Claveria
- Área Sanitaria de Vigo. Servicio Galego de Saúde (SERGAS), Grupo I-Saúde, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Galicia Sur, Vigo, Galicia, España
| | - Vicente Martínez
- Centro de Estudios Sociosanitarios, Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha, Cuenca, España; Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Autónoma de Chile, Talca, Chile
| | - Enric Vicens
- Parc Sanitari Sant Joan de Déu, Sant Boi de Llobregat, España
| | - César Minué
- Grupo Clínico Asociado Madrid. Servicio Madrileño de Salud. CS Perales del Río, Madrid, España
| | - Vicente Gil-Guillen
- Departamento de Medicina Clínica. Universidad Miguel Hernández, Alicante, España; Unidad de Investigación. Hospital General Universitario de Elda, Alicante, España; Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria y Biomédica de Alicante (ISABIAL. Hospital General Universitario de Alicante, Alicante, España
| | - Anna Berenguera
- Fundació Institut Universitari per a la recerca a l'Atenció Primària de Salut Jordi Gol i Gurina (IDIAPJGol), Barcelona, España; Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, España
| | - Anna Moleras-Serra
- Fundació Institut Universitari per a la recerca a l'Atenció Primària de Salut Jordi Gol i Gurina (IDIAPJGol), Barcelona, España; Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, España.
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Huon JF, Nizet P, Caillet P, Lecompte H, Victorri-Vigneau C, Fournier JP. Evaluation of the effectiveness of a joint general practitioner-pharmacist intervention on the implementation of benzodiazepine deprescribing in older adults (BESTOPH-MG trial): protocol for a cluster-randomized controlled trial. Front Med (Lausanne) 2023; 10:1228883. [PMID: 37711743 PMCID: PMC10498124 DOI: 10.3389/fmed.2023.1228883] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2023] [Accepted: 08/15/2023] [Indexed: 09/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Deprescribing benzodiazepines and related drugs (BZDR) is a challenge due to a lack of time on physicians' part, a lack of involvement of other health professionals, and the need for adapted tools. This study is based on primary care collaboration, by evaluating the effectiveness of a joint intervention between general practitioners and community pharmacists on the implementation of BZDR deprescribing in older adults. Methods This is a cluster randomized controlled trial in which each cluster will be formed by a physician-pharmacist pair. Within a cluster allocated to the intervention, the pharmacist will be trained in motivational interviewing (MI), and will offer the patient 3 interviews after inclusion by the physician. They will base their intervention on validated deprescribing guidelines. The pharmacist will receive methodological support during the first interviews. Interprofessional collaboration will be encouraged by writing reports for the physician after each interview. The following implementation outcomes will be evaluated: acceptability/adoption, appropriateness, cost, and fidelity. They will be measured by means of sociological interviews, observations, logbooks, and cost-utility analysis. Focus groups with physicians and pharmacists will be carried out to identify levers and barriers experienced in this collaboration. Observations will be conducted with pharmacists to assess their approach of the MIs. Effectiveness outcomes will be based on medication (discontinuation or reduction of BZDR) and clinical outcomes (such as quality of life, insomnia or anxiety), assessed by health insurance databases and validated questionnaires. Discussion This study will determine whether collaboration in primary care between physicians and pharmacists, as well as training and coaching of pharmacists in motivational interviewing, allows the implementation of BZDR deprescribing in the older adults.This study will provide an understanding of the processes used to implement deprescribing guidelines, and the contribution of collaborative practice in implementing BZDR discontinuation. The cluster methodology will allow to assess the experience of the relationship between the different primary care actors, and the related obstacles and levers.The results obtained will make it possible to produce guidelines on the involvement of community pharmacists in the management of substance abuse in older adults, or even to legislate new missions or care pathways. Clinical trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov, identifier, NCT05765656.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jean-François Huon
- Nantes Université, Univ Tours, CHU Nantes, CHU Tours, INSERM, MethodS in Patients-centered outcomes and HEalth Research, SPHERE, Nantes, France
- Nantes Université, CHU Nantes, Pharmacie, Nantes, France
| | - Pierre Nizet
- Nantes Université, Univ Tours, CHU Nantes, CHU Tours, INSERM, MethodS in Patients-centered outcomes and HEalth Research, SPHERE, Nantes, France
- Nantes Université, CHU Nantes, Pharmacie, Nantes, France
| | - Pascal Caillet
- Public Health Department, Nantes Université, CHU Nantes, Nantes, France
| | - Hélène Lecompte
- Nantes Université, Univ Tours, CHU Nantes, CHU Tours, INSERM, MethodS in Patients-centered outcomes and HEalth Research, SPHERE, Nantes, France
| | - Caroline Victorri-Vigneau
- Nantes Université, Univ Tours, CHU Nantes, CHU Tours, INSERM, MethodS in Patients-centered outcomes and HEalth Research, SPHERE, Nantes, France
- Centre d'évaluation et d'information sur la Pharmacodépendance-Addictovigilance, CHU Nantes, Nantes, France
| | - Jean-Pascal Fournier
- Nantes Université, Univ Tours, CHU Nantes, CHU Tours, INSERM, MethodS in Patients-centered outcomes and HEalth Research, SPHERE, Nantes, France
- Département de Médecine Générale, Université de Nantes, Nantes, France
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Kujala E, Hakko H, Riipinen P, Riala K. Associations of adolescent psychosocial factors to later benzodiazepine use: a population-based follow-up study of adolescent psychiatric inpatients in Northern Finland. Int Clin Psychopharmacol 2023; 38:146-153. [PMID: 36730677 PMCID: PMC10063188 DOI: 10.1097/yic.0000000000000441] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2022] [Accepted: 09/21/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
We investigated factors associated with benzodiazepine (BZD) use during late adolescence and early adulthood. The study population consisted of 508 adolescents admitted to psychiatric inpatient care between April 2001 and March 2006. Information on adolescents' family- and school-related factors, suicidality and psychiatric disorders were obtained by semistructured interviews. Data on BZD prescriptions from 1999 to 2012 were collected from the Social Insurance Institution of Finland. In males heavy BZD use associated with adolescent substance-use disorder (OR, 3.5; P < 0.004) and parents' psychiatric problems (OR, 3.5; P = 0.029). Among females, conduct disorder (OR, 3.3; P = 0.016), being a bully/bully-victim (OR, 3.3; P = 0.019) and parental substance-use problems (OR, 2.6; P = 0.024) were related to heavy BZD use. The mean (±SD) age of first BZD prescription was significantly lower in heavy, compared with mild users (men: 19.3 ± 2.5 vs. 21.0 ± 2.5 years, P = 0.027; women: 19.7 ± 2.6 vs. 21.5 ± 3.4 years, P = 0.027). Heavy, compared with mild, BZD use is associated with female suicide attempts (OR, 5.0; P = 0.049). Physicians should be cautious when prescribing BZDs to young adults and must allocate treatment to those with carefully evaluated clinical indications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emmi Kujala
- Faculty of Medicine, Research Unit of Clinical Medicine, Psychiatry, University of Oulu
| | - Helinä Hakko
- Oulu University Hospital, Psychiatry, Oulu, Finland
| | - Pirkko Riipinen
- Faculty of Medicine, Research Unit of Clinical Medicine, Psychiatry, University of Oulu
| | - Kaisa Riala
- Faculty of Medicine, Research Unit of Clinical Medicine, Psychiatry, University of Oulu
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Quality of Life Assessment in Patients Using Benzodiazepines during the COVID-19 Pandemic in a Community Pharmacy Using EuroQol 5D-3L. PHARMACY 2023; 11:pharmacy11010019. [PMID: 36827657 PMCID: PMC9959496 DOI: 10.3390/pharmacy11010019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2022] [Revised: 01/11/2023] [Accepted: 01/13/2023] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Users of benzodiazepines (BZDs) should have their quality of life monitored to minimize the risks associated with long-term treatments. The aim of this study is to use the EuroQol 5D-3L to analyze the quality of life of 127 patients under treatment with BZDs during the COVID-19 pandemic. The results show that lorazepam comprises 25.49% of all dispensing requests, and that the mean duration of BZDs treatments is four years (range: 0.3-25). When rating their general health status, BZDs users reported 59.29 points out of 100. Thirty-two percent of patients reported mobility problems; 16.5% reported having a lot of pain or discomfort despite being treated with BZDs, and 16.54% used a BZD together with an opioid analgesic. The EuroQol 5D-3L dimension "anxiety/depression" showed that, despite the use of BZDs, 48.2% of the patients reported being moderately anxious or depressed and 13.4% described themselves as very anxious or depressed. Nevertheless, 37.8% of BZDs users were identified as potential candidates to follow a BZD deprescription plan. In conclusion, BZDs users showed a low quality of life during the COVID-19 pandemic. Older patients and females have been identified as groups of patients that could benefit from integrating the use of the EuroQol 5D-3L instrument into the protocols of the pharmaceutical care follow up.
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Vicens C, Leiva A, Bejarano F, Sempere-Verdú E, Rodríguez-Rincón RM, Fiol F, Mengual M, Ajenjo-Navarro A, Do Pazo F, Mateu C, Folch S, Alegret S, Coll JM, Martín-Rabadán M, Socias I. Evaluation of a multicomponent intervention consisting of education and feedback to reduce benzodiazepine prescriptions by general practitioners: The BENZORED hybrid type 1 cluster randomized controlled trial. PLoS Med 2022; 19:e1003983. [PMID: 35522626 PMCID: PMC9075619 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pmed.1003983] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2021] [Accepted: 04/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Current benzodiazepine (BZD) prescription guidelines recommend short-term use to minimize the risk of dependence, cognitive impairment, and falls and fractures. However, many clinicians overprescribe BZDs and chronic use by patients is common. There is limited evidence on the effectiveness of interventions delivered by general practitioners (GPs) on reducing prescriptions and long-term use of BZDs. We aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of a multicomponent intervention for GPs that seeks to reduce BZD prescriptions and the prevalence of long-term users. METHODS AND FINDINGS We conducted a multicenter two-arm, cluster randomized controlled trial in 3 health districts in Spain (primary health centers [PHCs] in Balearic Islands, Catalonia, and Valencian Community) from September 2016 to May 2018. The 81 PHCs were randomly allocated to the intervention group (n = 41; 372 GPs) or the control group (n = 40; 377 GPs). GPs were not blinded to the allocation; however, pharmacists, researchers, and trial statisticians were blinded to the allocation arm. The intervention consisted of a workshop about the appropriate prescribing of BZDs and tapering-off long-term BZD use using a tailored stepped dose reduction with monthly BZD prescription feedback and access to a support web page. The primary outcome, based on 700 GPs (351 in the control group and 349 in the intervention group), compared changes in BZD prescriptions in defined daily doses (DDDs) per 1,000 inhabitants per day after 12 months. The 2 secondary outcomes were the proportion of long-term users (≥6 months) and the proportion of long-term users over age 65 years. Intention-to-treat (ITT) analysis was used to assess all clinical outcomes. Forty-nine GPs (21 intervention group and 28 control group) were lost to follow-up. However, all GPs were included in the ITT analysis. After 12 months, there were a statistically significant decline in total BZD prescription in the intervention group compared to the control group (mean difference: -3.24 DDDs per 1,000 inhabitants per day, 95% confidence interval (CI): -4.96, -1.53, p < 0.001). The intervention group also had a smaller number of long-term users. The adjusted absolute difference overall was -0.36 (95% CI: -0.55, -0.16, p > 0.001), and the adjusted absolute difference in long-term users over age 65 years was -0.87 (95% CI: -1.44, -0.30, p = 0.003). A key limitation of this clustered design clinical trial is the imbalance of some baseline characteristics. The control groups have a higher rate of baseline BZD prescription, and more GPs in the intervention group were women, GPs with a doctorate degree, and trainers of GP residents. CONCLUSIONS A multicomponent intervention that targeted GPs and included educational meeting, feedback about BZD prescriptions, and a support web page led to a statistically significant reduction of BZD prescriptions and fewer long-term users. Although the effect size was small, the high prevalence of BZD use in the general population suggests that large-scale implementation of this intervention could have positive effects on the health of many patients. TRIAL REGISTRATION ISRCTN ISRCTN28272199.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caterina Vicens
- Balearic Health Service IbSalut Son Serra-La Vileta Healthcare Centre, Palma, Illes Balears, Spain
- Research Network on Chronicity, Primary Care, and Health Promotion (RICAPPS)-Balearic Islands Health Research Institute (IdISBa), Mallorca, Spain
| | - Alfonso Leiva
- Research Network on Chronicity, Primary Care, and Health Promotion (RICAPPS)-Balearic Islands Health Research Institute (IdISBa), Mallorca, Spain
- Balearic Health Service IbSalut, Reseach Unit Primary care Mallorca, Palma, Illes Balears, Spain
- * E-mail:
| | - Ferran Bejarano
- Catalan Institute of Health Cat-salut, DAP Camp de Tarragona, Tarragona, Catalunya, Spain
| | - Ermengol Sempere-Verdú
- Conselleria de Sanitat Universal i Salut Pública, Paterna Healthcare Centre, Valencia, Comunitat Valenciana, Spain
| | - Raquel María Rodríguez-Rincón
- Balearic Health Service IbSalut Hospital Universitari Son Espases, Pharmacy Department,Palma de Mallorca, Illes Balears, Spain
| | - Francisca Fiol
- Balearic Health Service IbSalut Son Serra-La Vileta Healthcare Centre, Palma, Illes Balears, Spain
| | - Marta Mengual
- Catalan Institute of Health Cat-salut, DAP Camp de Tarragona, Tarragona, Catalunya, Spain
| | - Asunción Ajenjo-Navarro
- Conselleria de Sanitat Universal i Salut Pública, Paterna Healthcare Centre, Valencia, Comunitat Valenciana, Spain
| | - Fernando Do Pazo
- Balearic Health Service IbSalut Hospital Universitari Son Espases, Pharmacy Department,Palma de Mallorca, Illes Balears, Spain
| | - Catalina Mateu
- Balearic Health Service IbSalut Son Serra-La Vileta Healthcare Centre, Palma, Illes Balears, Spain
| | - Silvia Folch
- Catalan Institute of Health Cat-salut, DAP Camp de Tarragona, Tarragona, Catalunya, Spain
| | - Santiago Alegret
- Balearic Health Service IbSalut Son Serra-La Vileta Healthcare Centre, Palma, Illes Balears, Spain
| | - Jose Maria Coll
- Balearic Health Service IbSalut, Menorca Primary Care Management, Maó, Illes Baleares, Spain
| | - María Martín-Rabadán
- Balearic Health Service IbSalut, Can Misses Healthcare Centre Ibiza, Illes Baleares, Spain
| | - Isabel Socias
- Research Network on Chronicity, Primary Care, and Health Promotion (RICAPPS)-Balearic Islands Health Research Institute (IdISBa), Mallorca, Spain
- Balearic Health Service IbSalut, Manacor Healthcare Centre, Manacor, Illes Baleares, Spain
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Coe A, Kaylor-Hughes C, Fletcher S, Murray E, Gunn J. Deprescribing intervention activities mapped to guiding principles for use in general practice: a scoping review. BMJ Open 2021; 11:e052547. [PMID: 34489296 PMCID: PMC8422486 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2021-052547] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To identify and characterise activities for deprescribing used in general practice and to map the identified activities to pioneering principles of deprescribing. SETTING Primary care. DATA SOURCES Medline, EMBASE (Ovid), CINAHL, Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (ANZCTR), Clinicaltrials.gov, ISRCTN registry, OpenGrey, Annals of Family Medicine, BMC Family Practice, Family Practice and British Journal of General Practice (BJGP) from inception to the end of June 2021. STUDY SELECTION Included studies were original research (randomised controlled trial, quasi-experimental, cohort study, qualitative and case studies), protocol papers and protocol registrations. DATA EXTRACTION Screening and data extraction was completed by one reviewer; 10% of the studies were independently reviewed by a second reviewer. Coding of full-text articles in NVivo was conducted and mapped to five deprescribing principles. RESULTS Fifty studies were included. The most frequently used activities were identification of appropriate patients for deprescribing (76%), patient education (50%), general practitioners (GP) education (48%), and development and use of a tapering schedule (38%). Six activities did not align with the five deprescribing principles. As such, two principles (engage practice staff in education and appropriate identification of patients, and provide feedback to staff about deprescribing occurrences within the practice) were added. CONCLUSION Activities and guiding principles for deprescribing should be paired together to provide an accessible and comprehensive guide to deprescribing by GPs. The addition of two principles suggests that practice staff and practice management teams may play an instrumental role in sustaining deprescribing processes within clinical practice. Future research is required to determine the most of effective activities to use within each principle and by whom.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amy Coe
- Department of General Practice, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | | | - Susan Fletcher
- Department of General Practice, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Elizabeth Murray
- Primary Care and Population Health, University College London, London, UK
| | - Jane Gunn
- Department of General Practice, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
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Socias I, Leiva A, Pombo-Ramos H, Bejarano F, Sempere-Verdú E, Rodríguez-Rincón RM, Fiol F, Mengual M, Ajenjo-Navarro A, Do Pazo F, Mateu C, Folch S, Alegret S, Coll JM, Martín-Rabadán M, Vicens C. Evaluating the Implementation of a Multicomponent Intervention Consisting of Education and Feedback on Reducing Benzodiazepine Prescriptions by General Practitioners: BENZORED Hybrid Type I Cluster Randomized Controlled Trial. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2021; 18:7964. [PMID: 34360267 PMCID: PMC8345522 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph18157964] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2021] [Revised: 07/15/2021] [Accepted: 07/21/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND General practitioners (GPs) in developed countries widely prescribe benzodiazepines (BZDs) for their anxiolytic, hypnotic, and muscle-relaxant effects. Treatment duration, however, is rarely limited, and this results in a significant number of chronic users. Long-term BZD use is associated with cognitive impairment, falls with hip fractures, traffic accidents, and increased mortality. The BENZORED IV trial was a hybrid type-1 trial conducted to evaluate the effectiveness and implementation of an intervention to reduce BZD prescription in primary care. The purpose of this qualitative study was to analyze the facilitators and barriers regarding the implementation of the intervention in primary care settings. METHODS A qualitative interview study with 40 GPs from three Spanish health districts. Focus group meetings with GPs from the intervention arm of the BENZORED IV trial were held at primary healthcare centers in the three districts. For sampling purposes, the GPs were classified as high or low implementers according to the success of the intervention measured at 12 months. The Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR) was used to conduct the meetings and to code, rate, and analyze the data. RESULTS Three of the 41 CFIR constructs strongly distinguished between high and low implementers: the complexity of the intervention, the individual Stage of Change, and the key stakeholder's engagement. Seven constructs weakly discriminated between the two groups: adaptability in the intervention, external policy and incentives, implementation climate, relative priority, self-efficacy, compatibility, and engaging a formally appointed implementation leader. Fourteen constructs did not discriminate between the two groups, six had insufficient data for evaluation, and eleven had no data for evaluation. CONCLUSIONS We identified constructs that could explain differences in the efficacy in implementation of the intervention. This information is relevant for the design of successful strategies for implementation of the intervention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isabel Socias
- Healthcare Centre Manacor, Balearic Health Service IbSalut, 07500 Manacor, Spain;
- Balearic Islands Health Research Institute (IdISBa), 07120 Palma, Spain
| | - Alfonso Leiva
- Balearic Islands Health Research Institute (IdISBa), 07120 Palma, Spain
- Reseach Unit Mallorca, Balearic Health Service IbSalut, 07003 Palma, Spain
| | - Haizea Pombo-Ramos
- Primary Care Research Unit of Biscaia, Basque HealthCare Service Osakidetza, BioCruces Health Research Institute, 48903 Bizkaia, Spain;
| | - Ferran Bejarano
- Catalunya Health Services-CatSalut, DAP Camp de Tarragona, 43002 Tarragona, Spain; (F.B.); (M.M.); (S.F.)
| | - Ermengol Sempere-Verdú
- Paterna Healthcare Centre, Conselleria de Sanitat Universal i Salut Pública, 46980 Valencia, Spain; (E.S.-V.); (A.A.-N.)
| | - Raquel María Rodríguez-Rincón
- Pharmacy Department, Hospital Universitari Son Espases, Balearic Health Service IbSalut, 07120 Palma, Spain; (R.M.R.-R.); (F.D.P.)
| | - Francisca Fiol
- Balearic Islands Health Research Institute (IdISBa), 07120 Palma, Spain
- Son Serra-La Vileta Healthcare Centre, Balearic Health Service IbSalut, 07013 Palma, Spain; (F.F.); (C.M.); (S.A.); (C.V.)
| | - Marta Mengual
- Catalunya Health Services-CatSalut, DAP Camp de Tarragona, 43002 Tarragona, Spain; (F.B.); (M.M.); (S.F.)
| | - Asunción Ajenjo-Navarro
- Paterna Healthcare Centre, Conselleria de Sanitat Universal i Salut Pública, 46980 Valencia, Spain; (E.S.-V.); (A.A.-N.)
| | - Fernando Do Pazo
- Pharmacy Department, Hospital Universitari Son Espases, Balearic Health Service IbSalut, 07120 Palma, Spain; (R.M.R.-R.); (F.D.P.)
| | - Catalina Mateu
- Son Serra-La Vileta Healthcare Centre, Balearic Health Service IbSalut, 07013 Palma, Spain; (F.F.); (C.M.); (S.A.); (C.V.)
| | - Silvia Folch
- Catalunya Health Services-CatSalut, DAP Camp de Tarragona, 43002 Tarragona, Spain; (F.B.); (M.M.); (S.F.)
| | - Santiago Alegret
- Son Serra-La Vileta Healthcare Centre, Balearic Health Service IbSalut, 07013 Palma, Spain; (F.F.); (C.M.); (S.A.); (C.V.)
| | - Jose Maria Coll
- Menorca Primary Care Management, Balearic Health Service IbSalut, 07701 Maó, Spain;
| | - María Martín-Rabadán
- Can Misses Healthcare Centre Ibiza, Balearic Health Service IbSalut, 07800 Ibiza, Spain;
| | - Caterina Vicens
- Balearic Islands Health Research Institute (IdISBa), 07120 Palma, Spain
- Son Serra-La Vileta Healthcare Centre, Balearic Health Service IbSalut, 07013 Palma, Spain; (F.F.); (C.M.); (S.A.); (C.V.)
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Combatting the misuse of benzodiazepines and related Z drugs in French general practice: a clinical review. BJGP Open 2020; 4:bjgpopen20X101014. [PMID: 32127364 PMCID: PMC7330199 DOI: 10.3399/bjgpopen20x101014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2019] [Accepted: 06/13/2019] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
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