Equipping physicians for benzodiazepine receptor agonists deprescription in older adults: theory-based development of the BE-SAFE intervention
(2025) Research in Social and Administrative Pharmacy — Vol. 210, n° 9, p. 714-721 (2025)
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- Background: Benzodiazepine receptor agonists (BZRA) are still widely used for sleep problems in older adults despite an unfavourable risk-benefit ratio. The hospital setting presents an opportunity for optimising medication use in older adults. The BE-SAFE project follows a rigorous sequential approach for developing a theory-informed intervention towards BZRA deprescription initiated in the hospital setting in 6 European countries (Belgium, Greece, Norway, Poland, Spain, and Switzerland). Objectives: The objectives of this paper are to describe the development of the physicians’ intervention, the results of on the acceptability and perceived feasibility with physicians, and the finalised BE-SAFE intervention. Methods: The intervention was built upon preliminary work and developed in four main steps: selection of behaviour change techniques; identification of existing resources and assessment of needs and preferences of hospital physicians; development of intervention components and modes of delivery; and end-users’ evaluation and refinement of intervention. Results: A total of 11 behaviour change techniques were selected, addressing 6 main barriers into a 6-component intervention: senior physician endorsement, training, self-monitoring, deprescription algorithm, communication to patients and other healthcare professionals. These core elements will be delivered allowing local adaptability.
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Sibille, F.-X., Salbert, J., Bolt, L., Tsoutsi, V., Callegari, E., Dalleur, O., Adda, T., Agoritsas, T., Berger, T., Aubert, C. E., Dikeos, D., Salvà, A., Pascual, B., Miralles, R., Wyller, T. B., Patey, A. M., Grimshaw, J. M., Wichniak, A., Spinewine, A., & de Saint Hubert, M. (2025). Equipping physicians for benzodiazepine receptor agonists deprescription in older adults: theory-based development of the BE-SAFE intervention. Research in Social and Administrative Pharmacy, 210(9), 714-721. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sapharm.2025.05.002 (Original work published 2025)