[Potentially inappropriate benzodiazepine prescriptions in elderly nursing home patients].
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the incidence of benzodiazepine overprescription as a cause of benzodiazepine overuse in nursing homes.


METHODS
Physicians were asked to complete a multiple-choice questionnaire for patients receiving at least one benzodiazepine and to indicate the reason for the prescription. To control for social desirability bias, two fictitious cases were submitted to each physician. Overprescription was defined as a prescription for benzodiazepine that differed from the indications given in the product monograph.


METHODS
Family physicians of patients living in three nursing homes in the Quebec City area were solicited by mail to take part in the survey.


RESULTS
Fifteen physicians treating 152 patients, whose average age was 82.1 years (range 50 to 100 years), agreed to take part in the study. It was found that 77.1% of the patients had been taking a benzodiazepine for more than a year. For 14.5% of the prescriptions, there was no official indication. The reasons most frequently cited for these prescriptions were that the physician was renewing a prescription given before he took charge of the patient, the patient's refusal to discontinue use of the medication, pressure from the nursing staff, and the fact that the patient was causing a disturbance. In 4% of the cases (6 answers), the physician acknowledged that there was no indication for prescribing a benzodiazepine.


CONCLUSIONS
This study shows that, in 14.5% of cases, overprescription could be a cause of benzodiazepine overuse in nursing homes.
Roberge
R F
RF
Unité de recherche en gériatrie de l'Université Laval.
Genest
A
A
Beauchemin
J P
JP
Parent
M
M
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001569:Benzodiazepines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011307:Drug Prescriptions / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004363:Drug Utilization; D005194:Family Practice / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006707:Homes for the Aged; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009735:Nursing Homes; D011792:Quebec; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
D001569:Benzodiazepines
Prescriptions potentiellement inappropriées de benzodiazépines chez les personnes âgées en centre d'accueil.