Author/Editor		Šubelj, Maja; Vidmar, Gaj; Švab, Vesna
Title		Prescribing of benzodiazepines among slovenian family physicians
Translated title		Predpisovanje benzodiazepinov med slovenskimi zdravniki družinske medicine
Type		članek
Source		Zdrav Vars
Vol. and No.		Letnik 48, št. 4
Publication year		2009
Volume		str. 162-9
Language		eng
Abstract		Izhodišča: Kljub stranskim učinkom so benzodiazepini najpogosteje predpisani psihofarmaki v družinski medicini. Z raziskavo smo ocenjevali povezanost značilnosti zdravnikov, značilnosti ambulantnega dela in velikosti populacije bolnikov s predpisovanjem benzodiazepinov pri slovenskih zdravnikih družinske medicine. Metode: Na reprezentativnem vzorcu stotih zdravnikov družinske medicine smo z multiplo linearno regresijo ocenili, kateri dejavniki vplivajo na pogosto predpisovanje benzodiazepinov. Rezultati: Zdravniki družinske medicine v Sloveniji predpišejo v povprečju skoraj trikrat manj benzodiazepinov kot v Veliki Britaniji. Manj pogosto so benzodiazepine predpisovali zdravniki z manjšim številom opredeljenih bolnikov, zdravnice, mlajši zdravniki, specializanti, zdravniki s krajšo delovno dobo in zdravniki v večjih krajih v osrednjem delu države. Delež benzodiazepinov med vsemi recepti za psihofarmake je bil večji pri starejših zdravnikih in zdravnikih, ki na delovnem mestu niso imeli dostopa do spletne informacijske podpore pri predpisovanju zdravil. Zaključek: Zdravniki družinske medicine v Sloveniji zmerno predpisujejo benzodiazepine. Manjše predpisovanje je povezano z manjšimi delovnimi obremenitvami, ženskim spolom, nižjo starostjo, umeščenostjo ambulante v centralnih delih Slovenije in dostopom do spletne informacijske podpore pri predpisovanju zdravil na delovnem mestu.
Summary		Background: In spite of their side effects, benzodiazepines are the most frequently prescribed psychotropic drugs in family medicine. The objective of this study was to investigate the possible association between physician characteristics, practice structure and practice population size with the pattern of prescribing benzodiazepines among Slovenian family physicians. Methods: We studied a representative sample of 100 family physicians using a combination of self-administered questionnaire, demographic data and data on prescribing provided by the Institute of Public Health of the Republic of Slovenia. The characteristics potentially influencing frequent prescribing were investigated by multiple linear regression analysis. Results: The estimated annual benzodiazepine consumption in Slovenia is nearly 3-fold lowerthan in the United Kingdom. Benzodiazepines were found to be less frequently prescribed by physicians with lower numbers of registered patients,as well as by female physicians, younger physicians, physicians followig the specialist training, those with short length of service, and by physicians working in large towns of the central healthcare region. The physicians' age and access to computerised decision-making support for drug management at the workplace were found to be significantly associated with increased prescription of benzodiazepines compared to the volume of prescribed psychotropic drugs. Conclusions: The results indicate that family physicians in Slovenia prescribe appropriate amounts of benzodiazepines. Benzodiazepines are less frequently prescribed in practices with less workload, by younger and female family physicians, in practices located in central Slovenia and by family physicians with online access to information at their workplace.