The Impact of a Pharmacist Intervention on Post-discharge Hypnotic Drug Discontinuation in Geriatric Inpatients

Inclusion Criteria: * Patients aged ≥ 75 years * Admitted to an acute geriatric ward of UZ Leuven * Documented chronic use of a hypnotic drug (hypnotics were defined as benzodiazepines and Z-drugs and chronic hypnotic drug use was defined as hypnotic use for at least five days a week during a minimum of four consecutive weeks. * Indication: insomnia, anxiety or an undefined reason Exclusion Criteria: * Concomitant use of multiple benzodiazepines and/or Z-drugs * Discontinuation of the hypnotic drug prior to enrollment * Estimated discharge from the hospital within 72 hours of admission * No command of the Dutch language * Severe psychiatric or neurological disease (e.g. bipolar disorder, epilepsy or dystonia) or a severe acute medication condition in the opinion of the treating physician * End-of-life care. Study participants who died during their hospital stay were excluded from the analysis as their medication at discharge could not be evaluated. In case of any readmission, only the first admission was included in the analysis.