Hypnotic drug prescribing and consumption in a New Zealand teaching hospital.
The relationship between hypnotic drug choice and consumption was investigated with respect to eight variables for eight of the most commonly prescribed hypnotics in Wellington Hospital. The overall prescribing rate was 27% but the dispensing rate was 89.1%, attributable to the high incidence of PRN charting. Consumption of hypnotics increased with increasing patient age and duration of hospital stay. Consumption was higher for medical compared to surgical patients. Drug choice, ward preference and prescribing rate did not influence consumption, highlighting the fundamental discretionary role of the nurse-dispenser, determining the level of consumption.
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D011307:Drug Prescriptions; D004363:Drug Utilization; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization; D006784:Hospitals, Teaching; D006801:Humans; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives / Q000008:administration & dosage; D007223:Infant; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009520:New Zealand
D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives