OBJECTIVES: To estimate the proportion of benzodiazepine prescriptions that comply with the guidelines for appropriate prescription. To identify the variables associated with appropriate prescription. DESIGN: Observational, cross-sectional study. SETTING: Monóvar Health Centre in Area IV, Madrid, Spain. SUBJECTS: Random sample of 270 active benzodiazepine prescriptions in adult patients from the prescriptions record of the OMI-AP V. 5.0 computer system. MEASUREMENTS: The chosen dimensions for appropriate prescription were: a) correct diagnostic indication; b) absence of benzodiazepines with long half-life in the elderly; c) existence of support or monitoring visits; d) overall appropriateness or coexistence of correct diagnostic indications and monitoring visits. Independent variables were recorded in relation to patient, person prescribing and prescription. RESULTS: Diagnostic indication, 75.6%; absence of benzodiazepines with long half-life in the elderly, 79.8%; existence of support visits, 63.3%; overall appropriateness, 53%. Main diagnoses: pure anxiety, 29%; anxiety related to other illness, 18.6%; insomnia, 14.8%; cardiovascular illness, 14.8%; alcohol and drug abuse, 4.5%; osteo-muscular illness, 4.4%; schizophrenia, 4.4%. Most prescribed substances: lorazepam, 27.8%; bromazepam, 23.7%. Average life of prescriptions: 18.58 months. Origins: health centre, 68.5%; out-patient psychiatry, 10%; hospital, 10%. The variable that is most closely associated with overall appropriateness, fitted with the rest of the variables, is out-patient psychiatry prescription (OR, 6.67; 95% CI, 1.92-23.18). CONCLUSIONS: The mean duration of the prescriptions infringes all standards. The overall appropriateness or correct coexistence of adequate diagnostic indication with follow-up visits is associated with out-patient Psychiatry prescription.
OBJECTIVES: To estimate the proportion of benzodiazepine prescriptions that comply with the guidelines for appropriate prescription. To identify the variables associated with appropriate prescription. DESIGN: Observational, cross-sectional study. SETTING: Monóvar Health Centre in Area IV, Madrid, Spain. SUBJECTS: Random sample of 270 active benzodiazepine prescriptions in adult patients from the prescriptions record of the OMI-AP V. 5.0 computer system. MEASUREMENTS: The chosen dimensions for appropriate prescription were: a) correct diagnostic indication; b) absence of benzodiazepines with long half-life in the elderly; c) existence of support or monitoring visits; d) overall appropriateness or coexistence of correct diagnostic indications and monitoring visits. Independent variables were recorded in relation to patient, person prescribing and prescription. RESULTS: Diagnostic indication, 75.6%; absence of benzodiazepines with long half-life in the elderly, 79.8%; existence of support visits, 63.3%; overall appropriateness, 53%. Main diagnoses: pure anxiety, 29%; anxiety related to other illness, 18.6%; insomnia, 14.8%; cardiovascular illness, 14.8%; alcohol and drug abuse, 4.5%; osteo-muscular illness, 4.4%; schizophrenia, 4.4%. Most prescribed substances: lorazepam, 27.8%; bromazepam, 23.7%. Average life of prescriptions: 18.58 months. Origins: health centre, 68.5%; out-patient psychiatry, 10%; hospital, 10%. The variable that is most closely associated with overall appropriateness, fitted with the rest of the variables, is out-patient psychiatry prescription (OR, 6.67; 95% CI, 1.92-23.18). CONCLUSIONS: The mean duration of the prescriptions infringes all standards. The overall appropriateness or correct coexistence of adequate diagnostic indication with follow-up visits is associated with out-patient Psychiatry prescription.