Equipping physicians for benzodiazepine receptor agonists deprescription in older adults: theory-based development of the BE-SAFE intervention

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. Twenty-four physicians evaluated the intervention. They confirmed that the intervention effectively targets the barriers highlighted in preliminary work and provided feedback for improvement regarding clarity and time issues. Conclusions: A 6-component physician's intervention to enhance BZRA deprescription initiated in hospital settings was developed by systematically addressing implementation issues in a theory informed manner. This intervention will be evaluated in a multi-country cluster randomised controlled trial.