Received Both a Benzodiazepine or Zopiclone and a Strong Opioid Following a Public Hospital Event

Identifying Attributes

Care Settings
Primary Care
Country
New Zealand
Publishing Organisation
Health Quality & Safety Commission
Type of Quality Indicator
Process
IOM Quality Dimension
Safety
Domain
Medications and Medication Management

Defining Attributes

Definition

People who received both a benzodiazepine or zopiclone and a strong opioid following a public hospital event.

Numerator

People having a 'trigger event' in National Minimum Dataset or National Non-Admitted Patient Collection in the eight days prior to dispensing of a strong opioid and a benzodiazepine or opiclone, excluding people dispensed a benzodiazepine or zopiclone in the three months prior to admission.

Denominator

People dispensed both a strong opioid and a benzodiazepine/zopiclone. Dispensing of both medicines to be on the same day.

Exclusions

People dispensed a benzodiazepine or zopiclone in the three months prior to admission. Methadone hydrochloride was not included as a strong opioid.

Use of Risk Adjustment
No
Risk Adjustments

None

Stratifications

By year: 2012-2019, Ethnicity: Māori, Pacific peoples, Asian, European/Other Age (years) 65-74, 75-84, 85+, Sex: F, M

Collection and Reporting Attributes

Type of Data Collection
Standardised clinical data
Data Collection Methods

Pharmaceutical Collection, National Minimum Dataset, National Non Admitted Patient Collection.

Frequency of Data Collection
Annually
Frequency of Data Collection in Days
365
Reporting Methods

New Zealand Atlas of Healthcare Variation

Reporting Frequency
Reporting Frequency in Days
Indicator Has Recommended Targets
No

Source and Reference Attributes

Link to Measurement Tools
Quality Indicator Confirmed to be Part of a Program Used to Monitor Quality and Safety of Care Among Older People at a Population-Level between 2012-2022
Yes
Assessed by the Australian Consortium for Aged Care Collaborators as Generally Containing Good Properties (Importance and Scientific Acceptability)
No
Australian Consortium for Aged Care Endorsed
No
Identified by PHARMA-Care Project
No
Upload Date
02 December 2025