Canada's Medical Campaign Group Expresses Concern Over Excessive Prescribing Of Sleeping Pills To Older People

The "Choosing Wisely Canada" campaign group has expressed concern over the inappropriate use of health care in Canada and urged more prudence in prescribing sleep aids to senior citizens. About one third of people over the age of 65 are using sleeping pills, despite the risky nature of the drugs particularly for older adults. It also noted that the pills are also not able to offer substantially longer and better quality sleep for the seniors.

Safer Ways to Get Sleep

Dr. Wendy Levinson, chairperson of the campaign, pointed to many safer ways for seniors to enjoy good sleep. She said sleeping pills for seniors are fraught with side-effects and risks. They include drowsiness, risk of car accidents, constipation, urinating trouble, hazy steps, falls and fractures.

Many advertisements pop out promising lots of blissful sleep, but studies have shown that those who use sleeping pills only "sleep a little longer and better than those who don't", Levinson said. The alternatives measures to improve sleep are regular exercise and avoiding caffeine after 3 pm or earlier.

Inappropriate Healthcare

The group is in a mission seeks to educate both patients and doctors about the perils of inappropriate health care. The trend of ordering unwanted tests and procedures on patients is alarming. Levinson says, the group's initiative will be to get both sides of the dynamic understand that commonly ordered tests and procedures are more often unnecessary. "Patients think they need testing, but don't understand that testing can actually be ... harmful," Levinson claimed in an interview with Montreal Gazette.

"About 60 percent of doctors say they are forced to over-order tests because patients request them. That is why MRIs or X-rays for lower back pain and antibiotics are opted for even if they are not needed."

Minimum Tests

The Choosing Wisely campaign is supported by many medical specialty groups and associations. It has drawn up Top 5 lists of tests, procedures or practices common to their specialty that should not be done, reported Province News. These findings are vetted by members of the specialty and subjected to evidence review to advocate that doctors and patients need to reduce the frequency of tests. The group cautions against the trend of ordering blood tests every year as part of an annual physical check up. It is ordered even for patients with no risk factors. The campaign advises limiting annual checkups, saying physicals are important but it should not be done on a sporadic basis.

"Choosing Wisely Canada" sees it core mission in helping all physicians and patients for making smart choices for high-quality care by having conversations about unnecessary tests, treatments and cumbersome procedures.