De-adopting Routine Preoperative Benzodiazepines for Older Surgical Patients

DROP-Benzo (De-adopting Routine Preoperative Benzodiazepines for Older Surgical Patients): a Randomized Trial of Behavioral Strategies to Reduce Unnecessary Midazolam Administration to Older Surgical Patients

Over 21 million surgical procedures take place among adults aged 65 and older in the US each year, and most older surgical patients in the US now receive benzodiazepines (e.g., midazolam, lorazepam) during anesthesia care. This occurs despite recommendations to avoid these medications in older patients due to associated medical risks and lack of demonstrated benefit. In other words, routine benzodiazepine administration to older surgical patients is likely to represent low-value care that is a suitable target for de-adoption. In this study, we will evaluate a United States Anesthesia Partners (USAP, Dallas, TX) quality improvement initiative using peer comparison feedback to clinicians and/or mailed informational letters to patients as strategies to encourage physician de-adoption of routine preoperative benzodiazepine administration to older surgical patients. In partnership with USAP, this study will be conducted using randomization to evaluate its effect.

Inclusion Criteria:

• All anesthesia clinicians employed by USAP will be included in the evaluation. Patients will be included if they are at least aged 65 and undergo an elective (scheduled) surgical or endoscopic procedure under general anesthesia.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Patients will be excluded if they are unscheduled (urgent/emergent) cases due to inability to reliably deliver study interventions to this group; if they did not receive general anesthesia; or if they received a nerve block procedure.