A survey of general practitioners' attitudes to benzodiazepine overprescribing

This survey of doctors' attitudes took place against the background of professional concern over litigation in the field of benzodiazepine prescribing and the prospect of imposed audit of General Practitioner's (GP's) work. One hundred and thirty-three GPs in the Argyll and Clyde Health Board Area responded to a postal questionnaire (44% response rate) asking about their opinions on the reasons for benzodiazepine over-prescribing. Further statements suggested possible interventions to reduce this acknowledged problem. The study group appear representative of the population from which they are drawn. Benzodiazepine over-prescribing appeared to be a meaningful term to the doctors who replied to this survey. In their replies, GPs acknowledged this to be a multifactorial problem with complex social and psychological roots. Those who responded appear to have a positive attitude to reducing the problem and appear willing to use the alternative strategies which would be required.