Comparisons of GPs’ survey answers regarding their prescribing of benzodiazepines, Z drugs and amitriptyline
| GP Survey question | Response options | Benzodiazepine | Z drug | Amitriptyline | Statistics |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GPs ever prescribing | _ | 87% (144/166) | 84% (139/166) | 95% (157/166) | (χ2 = 10.11; P=0.006) |
| Proportion of patients with sleep problems in which GPs state they prescribe | <10% | 57% (82/145) | 45% (74/147) | 27% (41/154) | (χ2 = 40.59; P<0.0001) |
| 10–29% | 30% (44/145) | 30% (44/147) | 36% (55/154) | ||
| 30–49% | 9% (13/145) | 12% (17/147) | 24% (37/154) | ||
| 50–69% | 4% (9/145) | 8% (11/147) | 14% (15/154) | ||
| >70% | 0% (0/145) | 1% (1/147) | 4% (6/154) | ||
| Tolerance as a side effect | Strongly agree | 43% (70/162) | 22% (34/153) | 0% (0/159) | (χ2 = 232.74; P<0.0001) |
| Agree | 42% (69/162) | 39% (60/153) | 12% (19/159) | ||
| Neutral | 11% (17/162) | 30% (44/153) | 30% (47/159) | ||
| Disagree | 3% (5/162) | 9% (14/153) | 52% (83/159) | ||
| Strongly disagree | 1% (1/162) | 1% (1/153) | 6% (10/159) | ||
| Withdrawal as a side effect | Strongly agree | 31% (49/160) | 16% (24/152) | 1% (2/158) | (χ2 = 143.87; P<0.0001) |
| Agree | 52% (83/160) | 40% (60/152) | 22% (35/158) | ||
| Neutral | 11% (18/160) | 35% (53/152) | 37% (38/158) | ||
| Disagree | 5% (8/160) | 9% (14/152) | 38% (60/158) | ||
| Strongly disagree | 1% (2/160) | 1% (1/152) | 3% (5/158) | ||
| Dependence as a side effect | Strongly agree | 49% (81/162) | 25% (39/154) | 0% (0/159) | (χ2 = 269.45; P<0.0001) |
| Agree | 45% (74/160) | 53% (81/154) | 20% (30/159) | ||
| Neutral | 2% (3/160) | 20% (30/154) | 38% (60/159) | ||
| Disagree | 1% (2/160) | 2% (3/154) | 40% (63/159) | ||
| Strongly disagree | 1% (2/160) | 1% (1/154) | 4% (6/159) | ||
| Daytime sleepiness/sedation as a side effect | Strongly agree | 12% (19/161) | 7% (11/154) | 0% (0/158) | (χ2 = 81.28; P<0.0001) |
| Agree | 48% (77/161) | 34% (53/154) | 20% (31/158) | ||
| Neutral | 27% (43/161) | 37% (57/154) | 70% (111/158) | ||
| Disagree | 12% (19/161) | 20% (31/154) | 10% (15/158) | ||
| Strongly disagree | 2% (3/161) | 1% (2/154) | 1% (1/158) | ||