A drug education tool developed for older adults changes knowledge, beliefs and risk perceptions about inappropriate benzodiazepine prescriptions in the elderly

OBJECTIVE: To develop and test an educational tool for older adults that increases risk perception about benzodiazepines through knowledge acquisition and change in beliefs. METHODS: A written educational tool was mailed to 144 benzodiazepine consumers aged ≥65 years recruited from community pharmacies. Knowledge and beliefs about inappropriate prescriptions were queried prior to and 1-week after the intervention. Primary outcome was a change in risk perception. Explanatory variables were a change in knowledge and beliefs about medications. Self-efficacy for tapering and intent to discuss discontinuation were also measured. RESULTS: Post-intervention, 65 (45.1%) participants perceived increased risk. Increased risk perceptions were explained by better knowledge acquisition (mean change score 0.9, 95% CI (0.5, 1.3)), and a change in beliefs (BMQ differential mean change score -5.03, 95% CI (-6.4, -3.6)), suggesting elicitation of cognitive dissonance. Self-efficacy for tapering, (mean change score 31.2, 95% CI (17.9, 44.6)), and intent to discuss discontinuation of benzodiazepine with a doctor (83.1% vs 44.3%, p<0.001) were higher among participants who perceived increased risk. CONCLUSION: Risk perception surrounding inappropriate prescriptions can be altered through direct delivery of an educational tool to aging consumers. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: Patients should be targeted directly with information to catalyze discontinuation of inappropriate prescriptions.