title: An audit of prescribing practices for benzodiazepines and Z-drugs.
abstract: Concerns persist over the use of benzodiazepines and Z-drugs in Ireland. A prospective prescription audit was conducted in 81 community pharmacies across Ireland over a four week period. The study sought to assess the level of prescription compliance with key components of benzodiazepine and Z-drug prescribing guidelines. 28% of audit booklets issued were returned, yielding data on 4,418 prescriptions. The findings suggest that little progress has been made in improving the prescribing of benzodiazepines and Z-drugs in Ireland in the decade since publication of the Benzodiazepine Committee's report. Fewer than one fifth of prescriptions (18.8%) were fully compliant with the assessment criteria and the majority (53.7%) had multiple discrepancies. This study highlights the importance of monitoring and auditing benzodiazepine and Z-drug prescribing practices. Interventions involving patients, prescribers and pharmacists are required to improve the prescribing and use of these medications in Ireland.
authors: C
authors: C
authors: Cadogan
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Ryder
mesh_terms: D001569:Benzodiazepines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D019983:Guideline Adherence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007494:Ireland; D008485:Medical Audit / Q000379:methods; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians' / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D058996:Quality Improvement
chemical_list: D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives; D001569:Benzodiazepines