Exploring regional variation in antipsychotic coprescribing practice: a Danish questionnaire survey

The pharmacologic treatment of schizophrenia is characterized by excessive use of antipsychotic polypharmacy, which reflects a gap between evidence and practice. The aim of the present study was to investigate regional differences in treatment setting characteristics and in physician and nurse attitudes toward antipsychotic polypharmacy and clinical guidelines.

Cross-sectional postal questionnaire survey directed to physicians and nurses at 2 pairs of treatment settings in Denmark, characterized by low and high prevalence of antipsychotic polypharmacy, respectively. The questionnaire investigation was conducted during November 2007 to February 2008.

Satisfactory response rates were obtained (physicians: 93%; nurses: 87%). The treatment settings with low use of antipsychotic polypharmacy were characterized by raised knowledge/awareness of local antipsychotic treatment guidelines (P = .02 for physicians; P = .01 for nurses). Among physicians, these settings were also characterized by an elevated confidence in these guidelines (P = .01), frequent local educational activities (P < .0001), and increased recent involvement in research (P = .01). Among nurses, a perception of an overwhelming work load (P = .01) and time pressure (P = .003) was significantly more prevalent in treatment settings with high rates of antipsychotic coprescribing, as was the belief in the benefit of antipsychotic polypharmacy augmentation (P = .001).

Albeit no causal relationships can be inferred from this cross-sectional observational study, we recommend the furtherance of a treatment environment characterized by easily accessible clinical guidelines, frequent academic activities, and an unruffled atmosphere.