Biomaterial Database

Swedish physicians' inclination to prescribe benzodiazepines: differences between regions and characteristics of the prescriber. 1999

K Järbrink, and A Carlsten, and S O Frederiksen

National Board of Health and Welfare, Göteborg, Sweden.

There are substantial differences in the sales of benzodiazepines between Swedish regions. In order to determine whether there are consistent differences in the inclination of Swedish doctors to prescribe benzodiazepines depending on region and characteristics of the prescriber, a questionnaire was sent to a stratified random sample of physicians (116 family practitioners, 78 psychiatrists, and 96 private practitioners). The questionnaire contained six case studies in which benzodiazepine treatment was suggested and two case studies concerning change of benzodiazepine dosage. There were significant differences (p < 0.05) in the inclination to prescribe benzodiazepines depending on both region and the physician's age in two cases and the physician's speciality and gender in one case each. Psychiatrists and female physicians were, in general, less inclined to prescribe benzodiazepines. In spite of higher sales of benzodiazepines in Göteborg, physicians there had a lower inclination to prescribe benzodiazepines compared with physicians working in regions with lower prescription rates.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008297	Male		Males
D008511	Medicine	The art and science of studying, performing research on, preventing, diagnosing, and treating disease, as well as the maintenance of health.	Insurance Medicine,Medical Specialities,Medical Specialties,Medical Specialty,Specialities, Medical,Specialties, Medical,Specialty, Medical,Insurance Medicines,Medical Speciality,Medicine, Insurance,Medicines, Insurance,Speciality, Medical
D008875	Middle Aged	An adult aged 45 - 64 years.	Middle Age
D010818	Practice Patterns, Physicians'	Patterns of practice related to diagnosis and treatment as especially influenced by cost of the service requested and provided.	Clinical Practice Patterns,Physician's Practice Patterns,Clinical Practice Pattern,Pattern, Clinical Practice,Patterns, Clinical Practice,Practice Pattern, Clinical,Practice Patterns, Clinical,Practice Patterns, Physician's,Prescribing Patterns, Physician,Physician Practice Patterns,Physician Prescribing Pattern,Physician Prescribing Patterns,Physician's Practice Pattern,Physicians' Practice Pattern,Physicians' Practice Patterns,Practice Pattern, Physician's,Practice Pattern, Physicians',Practice Patterns, Physician,Prescribing Pattern, Physician
D011331	Private Practice	Practice of a health profession by an individual, offering services on a person-to-person basis, as opposed to group or partnership practice.	Solo Practice,Practice, Private,Practice, Solo,Practices, Private,Practices, Solo,Private Practices,Solo Practices
D011365	Professional Practice Location	Geographic area in which a professional person practices; includes primarily physicians and dentists.	Location, Professional Practice,Locations, Professional Practice,Practice Location, Professional,Practice Locations, Professional,Professional Practice Locations
D011570	Psychiatry	The medical science that deals with the origin, diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of mental disorders.
D005194	Family Practice	A medical specialty concerned with the provision of continuing, comprehensive primary health care for the entire family.	Family Practices,Practice, Family,Practices, Family
D005260	Female		Females
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man