Effectiveness of a multifaceted intervention to reduce night-time sedative use in a rehabilitation unit: a pre-post intervention study.

Background: night-time sedation prescribed during a hospital stay can result in long-term use of such medications in older people. We examined the effectiveness of a multifaceted intervention to reduce night time sedation in an inpatient rehabilitation unit.

Methods: an initial retrospective survey of night-time sedative use was followed by prospective re-evaluation after a number of changes were made including education of staff and of patients regarding the potential hazards of sedative medications, measures to promote sleep hygiene and facilitate a 'quiet time' after 10 pm and development of a withdrawal protocol for patients on long-term night sedation.