Improving benzodiazepine prescribing for elderly hospital inpatients using audit and multidisciplinary feedback

Abstract

Background: Benzodiazepines are commonly prescribed for older people. Inappropriate benzodiazepine prescribing may result in serious adverse effects, including confusion and falls. Aims: To determine the prevalence and appropriateness of benzodiazepine prescribing for elderly inpatients at nine public hospitals in Victoria, Australia, and to assess the impact of multidisciplinary feedback on quality of benzodiazepine prescribing. Methods: Clearance for the study was obtained from ethics committees of participating hospitals. Medication charts for 1301 patients aged 65 years and over were reviewed to identify patients prescribed a benzodiazepine. Using an evidence-based indicator of prescribi..