[Training and community-based intervention to reduce chronic benzodiazepine use for insomnia and distress in primary care].

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the effect of a combined educational and community-based intervention on reducing chronic benzodiazepine prescribing in primary care, with a specific analysis of patients aged 65 years or older.

DESIGN

Observational, quasi-experimental before-and-after study without a control group.

SETTING

Urban primary care center (Cornellà de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain).

PARTICIPANTS

For the dispensing analysis were included 17,752 individuals. For the specific analysis of patients aged 65 years or older, 525 patients with an active prescription lasting more than 28 days, excluding those with severe mental disorders, advanced cognitive impairment, palliative or home care, inclusion in advanced chronic care programs, or psychiatric prescribing.

INTERVENTIONS: Accredited training for healthcare professionals (14h) and community pharmacists (3h) focused on deprescribing and non-pharmacological management of insomnia and emotional distress. Community awareness campaign: local radio, information letters, posters, and group workshops.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Annual number of dispensed benzodiazepine packages and number of patients aged 65 years or older with chronic prescriptions.

RESULTS

Total dispensing decreased from 12,149 packages in 2023 to 10,964 in 2024 (-9.8%; p<0.001). The number of patients aged 65 years or older with chronic prescribing was reduced by 6.3% (from 525 to 492). In 2025, the downward trend was maintained, with a cumulative reduction of 21.6%.

CONCLUSIONS

The intervention was associated with a sustained reduction in benzodiazepine prescribing and dispensing. The results suggest a relevant role of professional training, although the absence of a control group limits, and requires the findings to be interpreted with caution.