Visual Sleep-Health Education to Support Benzodiazepine Deprescribing in Older Adults: Current Evidence and a Framework for Clinical Practice

Long-term benzodiazepine use for insomnia remains a patient-safety concern, while deprescribing is frequently hindered by fear of poor sleep, limited confidence in non-pharmacological alternatives, and difficulty translating general sleep advice into daily practice. This review examines current evidence on behavioural sleep determinants, patient education, health literacy, and visual communication in relation to benzodiazepine deprescribing. Particular attention is given to older adults, for whom long-term use, polypharmacy, falls risk, and differences in health literacy may complicate deprescribing. Successful deprescribing extends beyond dose reduction and requires attention to medication beliefs, withdrawal concerns, self-efficacy, and access to effective behavioural support. Cognitive behavioural therapy for insomnia and other non-pharmacological approaches can facilitate discontinuation, but their availability remains limited. Visual educational resources may improve comprehension, reduce cognitive burden, and help patients recognise the relationship between daytime behaviours, circadian regulation, sleep environment, pre-sleep routines, and sleep-related thoughts. However, visual sleep-health communication has rarely been examined specifically within benzodiazepine deprescribing. Integrating visual sleep-health education into deprescribing conversations may provide a practical framework for explaining insomnia mechanisms, identifying modifiable behaviours, and supporting shared goal setting. A proposed visual framework is presented as an adjunct to clinician-guided tapering and evidence-based insomnia treatment. Its acceptability, feasibility, and effectiveness should be evaluated before routine clinical implementation.