LTCPR-Benzodiazepine-90-days - Health Quality Ontario (HQO)

INDICATOR NAME

Name

Benzodiazepines for at Least 90 Days: Percentage of residents aged 66 and older who were prescribed a benzodiazepine for at least 90 continuous days

Alternate Name

Benzodiazepines for at Least 90 Days: Percentage of residents aged 66 and older who were prescribed a benzodiazepine for at least 90 continuous days

INDICATOR DESCRIPTION

Description

This indicator measures the percentage of residents who had a benzodiazepine dispensed for at least 90 continuous days measured from the last date of contact in the reporting period.

HQO Reporting tool/product

Personalized/Custom Reports (includes Practice Reports)

Dimension

Patient-centred

Type

Outcome

DEFINITION AND SOURCE INFORMATION

Unit of Measurement

Percentage

Calculation Methods

The number of residents with benzodiazepine dispensed for at least 90 days is divided by the total number of residents in the cohort for the reporting period who are 66 years and older, were not new to the Long-Term Care home, and were not in palliative care. This is multiplied by 100.

Numerator (short description i.e. not inclusions/exclusions)

The number of residents with a benzodiazepine dispensed (with Long-Term Care flag) during 90 days preceding the index date (a resident’s last service date in the quarter).

Denominator (short description i.e. not inclusions/exclusions)

The total number of residents in the cohort for the reporting period who are 66 years and older, were not new to the Long-Term Care home, and were not in palliative care.

Adjustment (risk, age/sex standardization)- generalized

None

Data Source

Discharge Abstract Database (DAD), Ontario Drug Benefit (ODB), Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP) Claims History Database, Ontario Mental Health Reporting System (OMHRS), Physician Database (IPDB), Registered Persons Database (RPDB)

Data provided to HQO by

Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences (ICES)

Reported Levels of comparability /stratifications (defined)

Province

OTHER RELEVANT INFORMATION

Caveats and Limitations

The indicator also captures medications dispensed that are prescribed on an as-needed basis (PRN). This indicator is strictly for quality improvement efforts, and is not reportable or for accountability. Caveats: These indicators are not intended to assess the appropriateness of the use of these medications. They are designed to identify those residents at increased risk of falls related to the medications, and to aid with quality improvement. For this reason, residents who may have clinical indications for these medications are included in the indicator because these residents would be at an increased risk of falls. Where appropriate, residents may be considered for a trial of weaning, titrating drug dose, or a trial of substituting with a medication that has a lower risk of falls. These indicators are not intended to override clinical judgement, but solely to capture those who may be at an increased risk of falls.