OBJECTIVE: The efficacy of programmes to reduce long-term benzodiazepine use could be compromised by subsequent increases in contacts with the family practice. In this study the hypothesis was tested as to whether participation in a benzodiazepine discontinuation programme affects the frequency of contacts with the family practice. DESIGN: A controlled stepped-care intervention programme to decrease long-term benzodiazepine use. SETTING: Family practices in the Netherlands. Subjects. The experimental group consisted of 996 long-term benzodiazepine users and a control group of 883 long-term benzodiazepine users. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Practice contacts before and up to 12 months after the start of the programme. RESULTS: There was a general tendency visible for contacts to decrease during the follow-up time. The course of the number of contacts during the follow-up was not different for the experimental and control groups (p=0.45). The level of non-benzodiazepine prescriptions was generally not altered. The number of non-benzodiazepine prescriptions decreased in benzodiazepine quitters during the follow-up of the programme. CONCLUSION: No clinically important differences in practice contacts were observed when the course of the number of contacts and non-benzodiazepine prescriptions were compared between the experimental and control groups. Family practitioners do not have to anticipate an increased workload associated with participation in such a benzodiazepine discontinuation programme.
OBJECTIVE: The efficacy of programmes to reduce long-term benzodiazepine use could be compromised by subsequent increases in contacts with the family practice. In this study the hypothesis was tested as to whether participation in a benzodiazepine discontinuation programme affects the frequency of contacts with the family practice. DESIGN: A controlled stepped-care intervention programme to decrease long-term benzodiazepine use. SETTING: Family practices in the Netherlands. Subjects. The experimental group consisted of 996 long-term benzodiazepine users and a control group of 883 long-term benzodiazepine users. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Practice contacts before and up to 12 months after the start of the programme. RESULTS: There was a general tendency visible for contacts to decrease during the follow-up time. The course of the number of contacts during the follow-up was not different for the experimental and control groups (p=0.45). The level of non-benzodiazepine prescriptions was generally not altered. The number of non-benzodiazepine prescriptions decreased in benzodiazepine quitters during the follow-up of the programme. CONCLUSION: No clinically important differences in practice contacts were observed when the course of the number of contacts and non-benzodiazepine prescriptions were compared between the experimental and control groups. Family practitioners do not have to anticipate an increased workload associated with participation in such a benzodiazepine discontinuation programme.
Authors: Wim J M J Gorgels; Richard C Oude Voshaar; Audrey J J Mol; Eloy H van de Lisdonk; Anton J L M van Balkom; Henk J M van den Hoogen; Jan Mulder; Marinus H M Breteler; Frans G Zitman Journal: Drug Alcohol Depend Date: 2005-04-04 Impact factor: 4.492
Authors: R C Oude Voshaar; W J M J Gorgels; A J J Mol; A J L M van Balkom; E H van de Lisdonk; M H M Breteler; H J M van den Hoogen; F G Zitman Journal: Br J Psychiatry Date: 2003-06 Impact factor: 9.319
Authors: Frans Vissers; Remy van der Grinten; Frans van der Horst; Arnold Kester; J André Knottnerus Journal: Scand J Prim Health Care Date: 2003-09 Impact factor: 2.581