Date of Conferral
11-11-2025
Date of Award
November 2025
Degree
Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)
School
Nursing
Advisor
Julibeth Lauren
Abstract
Background: Benzodiazepines are commonly prescribed for anxiety disorders; however, long-term use increases risks of dependence, cognitive impairment, falls, and overdose. Despite established guidelines recommending time-limited use, inappropriate chronic prescribing remains prevalent in primary care. Purpose: The purpose of this Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) project was to develop and implement an evidence-based clinical practice guideline (CPG) to reduce benzodiazepine overprescribing for adults with anxiety disorders in a primary care setting. The goal was to improve prescriber adherence to current best practices and promote patient safety. Methods: This quality improvement project utilized the Johns Hopkins Evidence-Based Practice Model to guide development, implementation, and evaluation. A multidisciplinary team of nurse practitioners, pharmacists, and behavioral health clinicians collaborated to adapt existing deprescribing frameworks. Educational sessions and clinical decision aids were integrated into the electronic health record to support patients in developing tapering plans and exploring alternative treatments. Organizational readiness was assessed before implementation to ensure stakeholder engagement. Results: Post-implementation evaluation demonstrated increased provider knowledge and confidence in benzodiazepine tapering strategies, improved documentation of anxiety management plans, and an initial reduction in chronic benzodiazepine prescriptions. Staff feedback indicated strong acceptance of the guideline and recognition of its alignment with patient safety goals. Conclusions: Integrating a structured deprescribing guideline within primary care promotes safer medication management for anxiety disorders. Nurse-led initiatives that combine education, interdisciplinary collaboration, and workflow integration can effectively reduce inappropriate benzodiazepine use and enhance quality of care. Keywords: deprescribing, benzodiazepines, anxiety disorders, primary care, clinical practice guidelines, quality improvement
Recommended Citation
Gibson, Oji, "Deprescription of Benzodiazepine" (2025). Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies. 18706.
https://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/dissertations/18706
