Abstract
This study evaluated patients’ and physicians’ characteristics associated with the purchase of benzodiazepines by older primary
care patients in Israel. The analytic sample consists of those 6,421 patients age 65 and older. We used multi-level analysis
with whether or not benzodiazepines were purchased at least once between June 2005 and 2007 as an outcome. We also evaluated
patients’ and physicians’ characteristics associated with the purchase of benzodiazepines for 6 months or longer. Almost half
the sample (41.5%) purchased benzodiazepines at least once during the study period and more than half (54.5%) of those purchasing
benzodiazepines had a continued purchase for 6 months or longer. Physicians’ characteristics explained only a small portion
of the variance associated with purchasing, whereas patients’ demographic and clinical characteristics were associated with
purchasing. Any intervention to improve the use of benzodiazepines should be directed at both patients and physicians.
care patients in Israel. The analytic sample consists of those 6,421 patients age 65 and older. We used multi-level analysis
with whether or not benzodiazepines were purchased at least once between June 2005 and 2007 as an outcome. We also evaluated
patients’ and physicians’ characteristics associated with the purchase of benzodiazepines for 6 months or longer. Almost half
the sample (41.5%) purchased benzodiazepines at least once during the study period and more than half (54.5%) of those purchasing
benzodiazepines had a continued purchase for 6 months or longer. Physicians’ characteristics explained only a small portion
of the variance associated with purchasing, whereas patients’ demographic and clinical characteristics were associated with
purchasing. Any intervention to improve the use of benzodiazepines should be directed at both patients and physicians.
- Content Type Journal Article
- Category Research – Practice Relationships
- Pages 1-7
- DOI 10.1007/s10488-011-0381-9
- Authors
- Liat Ayalon, Louis and Gabi Weisfeld School of Social Work, Bar Ilan University, Ramat Gan, Israel
- Revital Gross, Louis and Gabi Weisfeld School of Social Work, Bar Ilan University, Ramat Gan, Israel
- Aviv Yaari, Clalit Health Services & Clalit Research Institute, Jerusalem, Israel
- Elan Feldhamer, Clalit Health Services & Clalit Research Institute, Jerusalem, Israel
- Ran D. Balicer, Clalit Health Services & Clalit Research Institute, Jerusalem, Israel
- Margalit Goldfracht, Community Division, Clalit Health Services, Tel Aviv, Israel
- Journal Administration and Policy in Mental Health and Mental Health Services Research
- Online ISSN 1573-3289
- Print ISSN 0894-587X