Potentially inappropriate prescription of hypnotic drugs in the elderly : a quality improvement project

INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND: Both the American Beers Criteria and the STOPP/START criteria for potentially inappropriate prescribing in older people, have recommended that benzodiazepines and Z-drugs should be avoided in older adults with a history of falls or fractures. Unfortunately, their misuse and overuse remains a worldwide epidemic. An initial audit at our rehabilitation hospital showed a significant increase in the number of patients discharged on hypnotics when compared to admission. To improve our practices we carried out a quality improvement project and a re-audit.