P19S03: Benzodiazepine withdrawal
Bottom line: Information on benzodiazepine
withdrawal was used to maintain the
management of a patient (reduction of the dose of benzodiazepine). There were no information-related
patient health outcomes.
Level 1 outcome (situational relevance): On July 18, 2008, P19 did a search at work, by themselves, and before
a phone call with a patient. They retrieved one information hit about Benzodiazepine withdrawal. The reported search objective was: to address a clinical question. One of the
family physicians in our office asked me if I could help with trying to
withdraw this gentleman [an elderly man] from his
benzodiazepine. He's been on [...] bromazepam, for many, many years, for sleep [problems].
[...] He [the patient] had developed ataxia [and the
physician thought] [...] that the benzodiazepine might be exacerbating the balance
difficulties (risk of falls) [that the patient] was having. [...] They [the physician]
were trying to withdraw or at least wean down the dose [of benzodiazepine] as much as
possible. [...] [I did the search to get] a fair
description of the withdrawal syndrome. According to P19,
e-Therapeutics+ was the only source for information, and the found information
was relevant.
Level 2 outcome (cognitive impact): One hit was associated with a report of positive cognitive impact (see table). Regarding
confirmation, reassurance and reminder, P19 stated: I guess it confirms what I thought the
symptoms of withdrawal would be. [...][Because] sometimes its hard to distinguish previous
symptoms [treated with] benzodiazepine,
from true [benzodiazepine] withdrawal. [...] It confirmed what I already thought I knew.
Retrieved
information hit:
1) e-Therapeutics+ (CIRT): Therapeutics Tab Keyword: Psychiatric disorders Drug withdrawal syndromes Benzodiazepine withdrawal syndrome Assessment (P19S03H01)
Level 3 outcome
(information use): Information on benzodiazepine withdrawal was retrieved,
and used to maintain (be more certain about)
the
management of a patient (information from e-Therapeutics+ was
used as presented). We are trying to reduce his [the patients]
benzodiazepine dose. So it [the information] was help in that plan.
Level 4 outcome (patient health): Without these information hits, P19s management of the patient would
have been the same. There was no clear relationship between the information use
and patient health outcomes.
Levels of outcome of information-seeking
|
Situational relevance |
Positive cognitive
impact |
Information use |
Patient health |
|
Address a clinical question |
Reminded something Confirmed Reassured |
Be more certain |
No outcome |