A retrospective review of the utilization of Benzodiazepines and Z-drugs in selected private community pharmacies in Namibia: 2017-2022

ackground: Overuse of benzodiazepines and Z-drugs is a considerable global public safety concern. In Namibia, despite the rising burden of mental illnesses, there is a paucity in data regarding the utilization of benzodiazepines and Z-drugs. Aim: The study aimed to determine the patterns and factors associated with the utilization of benzodiazepines and Z-drugs in community pharmacies to guide medicine policy reforms. Methods: A descriptive multicenter longitudinal study as per the World Health Organisation (WHO) medicine utilization design. The consumption data on benzodiazepines and Z-drugs were retrospectively abstracted from the Unisolv® dispensing software in selected pharmacies over a six-year period, 2017-2022. Consequently, key informants were interviewed to identify the drivers of the use of benzodiazepines and Z-drugs. Data were exported to SPSS v25 for analysis of the patterns and factors of use of benzodiazepines and Z-drugs. Results: Of the 10 selected-pharmacies, a total of 867 168 medicines were dispensed over the six-year review period and 2% of these were benzodiazepines and Z-drugs (n=17 840/867 168). Benzodiazepines (BZD) were the most dispensed (56%, n=9993/17 840), mainly to male patients (53.6%). The consumption of benzodiazepines and Z-drugs was highest with Zolpidem (6.07 DDDs/1000 population) compared to other benzodiazepines and Z-drugs. Over 54% of the dispensing encounters of benzodiazepines and Z-drugs were repeat prescriptions of Z-drugs. From 2017 to 2022, the consumption of Z-drugs increased but declined for benzodiazepines. Stakeholders identify the thematic drivers of the use of benzodiazepines and Z-drugs as irrational prescribing, marketing, and patient drug dependency. Conclusion: Whilst, the consumption of benzodiazepines and Z-drugs in Namibia is lower than global estimates, there is an increase in the use of benzodiazepines and Z-drugs in the private health sector. There is a need for a regulatory framework and an education strategy to empower pharmacists’ led interventions towards safe use of new benzodiazepines and Z-drugs in the community pharmacies

Grantor dc:publisher

University of Namibia

Year dc:date.issued

2024

Author dc:creator

• Iipinge, Taimi

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Kibuule, Dan

• Dependency
• Defined Daily Dose
• Community pharmacies
• Benzodiazepine and Z-drugs
• Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical
• Namibia
• University of Namibia

Language dc:language.iso

en

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/11070/4179

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:repository.unam.edu.na:11070/4179