A survey assessing current benzodiazepine prescribing patterns and factors influencing benzodiazepine prescribing by Newfoundland and Labrador physicians

摘要

The Health Transition Fund report (Kennedy & Goyer, 2002) indicated that prescribingudpractices for benzodiazepines (BZDs) are frequently inappropriate, but more difficult toudinfluence than others. The inappropriate benzodiazepine (BZD) prescriptions and theudinability to influence prescription behavior through educational means providesudjustification for further study to understand the underlying factors associated withudprescriptions. A survey of physicians can help objectify the variable(s) that play role(s) inudthe prescription of BZDs. For this thesis, a self-administered cross-sectional survey wasudconducted among the physicians in Newfoundland and Labrador in 2007 to assess theudprescribing patterns of BZDs and variables influencing them. Response rate was 30.68%ud(n= 297) of which 78.48% (n = 233) prescribed BZDs. The BZD prescribing patterns andudfactors affecting them were significantly influenced by demographic variables of theudrespondents; these findings may be used to develop physician education tools that mayudhelp to optimize the BZD prescribing patterns.