title: [The use of benzodiazepines and Z-drugs for patients with sleeping problems - A survey among hospital doctors and nurses].
abstract: Aim | Benzodiazepines and Z-drugs are frequently prescribed sleep medications in spite of their poor risk-benefit ratio when used over a longer period of time. The aim of the study was to find out how the medical and nursing staff in a general hospital estimated the frequency of use for these drugs, and the risk-benefit ratio for elderly patients as well as the factors which positively influence the perceived use of these drugs. Methods | All members of the medical and nursing staff of a hospital received a questionnaire about their use of, and attitudes towards, benzodiazepines and Z-drugs. Absolute and relative frequencies were calculated to estimate the perceived frequency of use and the risk-benefit ratio. Multiple logistic regressions were used to analyze which factors are associated with a perceived high use of benzodiazepines or Z-drugs for insomnia. Results | More nurses than hospital doctors believed that they dispensed benzodiazepines often or always (57 % vs. 29 %) to patients with insomnia; this was also the case for Z-drugs (66 % vs. 29 %). Nearly half of the hospital doctors and 29 % of the nurses perceived more harms than benefits for benzodiazepines in the elderly. The following factors were associated with a high perceived usage of Z-drugs: working as a nurse (OR: 13,95; 95%-CI: 3,87-50,28), working in a non-surgical department (5,41; 2,00-14,61), having < 5 years of professional experience (4,90; 1,43-16,81) and feeling that the benefits of Z-drugs outweigh the risks for elderly patients (5,07; 1,48-17,35). For benzodiazepines, only the perceived positive risk-benefit ratio had an influence on the perceived use (3,35; 1,28-8.79). Conclusion | The medical and nursing staff perceived the frequency of prescription of benzodiazepines and Z-drugs and the risk-benefit ratio in different ways. Other aspects, such as working in a non-surgical department or having a smaller amount of working experience may also influence the decision to use Z-drugs.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Weiß
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Heinemann
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Himmel
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Nau
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Hummers-Pradier
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D053961:Azabicyclo Compounds / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001569:Benzodiazepines / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011307:Drug Prescriptions / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D017723:Drug Utilization Review; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D020445:Hospitalists / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009741:Nursing Staff, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010879:Piperazines / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015995:Prevalence; D018570:Risk Assessment / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D007319:Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control*
chemical_list: D053961:Azabicyclo Compounds; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives; D010879:Piperazines; D001569:Benzodiazepines