title: [Reduction of the use of hypnotics by health education. Results from a controlled intervention study in a local community].
abstract: The object of this investigation was to study the effect of a wide informative campaign on the sale of hypnotics in Holbaek. An informative health campaign was carried out via the media and the general practitioners for a period of 16 weeks. The campaign in the media consisted of a weekly article by the journalists in the local newspaper, a weekly advertisement in the daily and weekly newspapers, mention in the local radio daily and in the weekly medical programme and a leaflet about sleep handed out by the general practitioners. Twelve general practitioners elected to participate in the intervention programme: all patients who sought hypnotics had to come to an interview about the sleep problem. The control consisted of the remaining eight general practitioners in Holbaek. The sale of hypnotics was registered by the pharmacists during five weeks prior to, six weeks during and three and 15 months after the campaign. Five weeks before the campaign, the sale of hypnotics was 2.05 defined daily doses per patient (1.69 in the intervention group and 2.49 in the control group). During the last five weeks of the campaign, the sale had declined by 24% and by 29% in the follow up period. The decline commenced immediately in the intervention group but was only partly stable. After approximately eight weeks of the campaign, stable declines had occurred in both groups. Fifteen months later, the sale of hypnotics was approximately 39% lower than at the commencement of the campaign.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Witt
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Hector
mesh_terms: D003718:Denmark; D004363:Drug Utilization; D006266:Health Education / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D009524:Newspapers as Topic; D011845:Radio; D012893:Sleep Wake Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy
chemical_list: D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives
vernacular_title: Nedbringelse af sovemiddelforbruget ved hjaelp af sundhedsoplysning. Resultatet af en kontrolleret interventionsundersøgelse i et lokalsamfund.