Perception of primary health care physicians from Ouro Preto and Mariana on prescribing benzodiazepines

Abstract

The high use of benzodiazepines (BZD) for the treatment of insomnia and anxiety arouses the need to investigate the factors that provide their prescription. Therefore, the present study aims to list the determining factors for the prescription of BZD in the treatment of mental health disorders (MHD). A descriptive study was carried out in October and November 2019, using an electronic questionnaire via Google Forms with questions related to the perception of doctors about the use of BZD. The participants were doctors who worked in primary health care in the Unied Health System (UHS) in Ouro Preto and Mariana. Among the eighteen physicians who participated in the research, the majority assumed responsibility (61.1%) and ability (55.6%) to treat and diagnose MHD. Most of them admitted having knowledge of adverse drug reactions (ADR). (88.2%) and knowing how to manage (58.8%) only the main ones of the drugs they are used to prescribe. Some factors related to patients considered limiting for the appropriate treatment of MHD were concern with ADR; reluctance to consult and take medications; and stigmatization of the diagnosis. Other factors that can favor the prescription of BZD were limitations resulting from professional training; low knowledge about treatment and diagnosis of these conditions / illnesses; lack of control over non-pharmacological measures. Still, the participants pointed out that the lack of alternative therapeutic resources available in the UHS of the municipalities contributes to increasing the prescription of BZD. Despite knowing about pharmacotherapy and management of ADR, including dependence and tolerance, the participants demonstrated to experience a professional anguish between the patients’ need and the risk / benet ratio of the BZD prescription.