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The influence of prescriber and patient gender on the prescription of benzodiazepines: results from the Florida Medicaid Dataset

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  19 January 2021

Leanna M. W. Lui Open the ORCID record for Leanna M. W. Lui [Opens in a new window] ,
Yena Lee Open the ORCID record for Yena Lee [Opens in a new window] ,
Orly Lipsitz Open the ORCID record for Orly Lipsitz [Opens in a new window] ,
Nelson B. Rodrigues ,
Hartej Gill ,
Jifeng Ma ,
Linas Wilkialis Open the ORCID record for Linas Wilkialis [Opens in a new window] ,
Jocelyn K. Tamura Open the ORCID record for Jocelyn K. Tamura [Opens in a new window] ,
Ashley Siegel  and
David Chen-Li
...Show all authors
Leanna M. W. Lui
Affiliation:
Mood Disorders Psychopharmacology Unit, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Yena Lee
Affiliation:
Mood Disorders Psychopharmacology Unit, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Orly Lipsitz
Affiliation:
Mood Disorders Psychopharmacology Unit, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Nelson B. Rodrigues
Affiliation:
Mood Disorders Psychopharmacology Unit, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Hartej Gill
Affiliation:
Mood Disorders Psychopharmacology Unit, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Jifeng Ma
Affiliation:
Department of Mental Health Law & Policy, Louis de la Parte Florida Mental Health Institute, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida, USA
Linas Wilkialis
Affiliation:
Mood Disorders Psychopharmacology Unit, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Jocelyn K. Tamura
Affiliation:
Mood Disorders Psychopharmacology Unit, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Ashley Siegel
Affiliation:
Mood Disorders Psychopharmacology Unit, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
David Chen-Li
Affiliation:
Mood Disorders Psychopharmacology Unit, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Joshua D. Rosenblat
Affiliation:
Mood Disorders Psychopharmacology Unit, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Rodrigo B. Mansur
Affiliation:
Mood Disorders Psychopharmacology Unit, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Marie A. McPherson
Affiliation:
Department of Mental Health Law & Policy, Louis de la Parte Florida Mental Health Institute, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida, USA
Roger S. McIntyre*
Affiliation:
Mood Disorders Psychopharmacology Unit, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada Department of Pharmacology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada Brain and Cognition Discovery Foundation, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
*
*Author for correspondence: Roger S. McIntyre, MD, Email: roger.mcintyre@uhn.ca
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Abstract

Background

Benzodiazepine (BZD) prescription rates have increased over the past decade in the United States. Available literature indicates that sociodemographic factors may influence diagnostic patterns and/or prescription behaviour. Herein, the aim of this study is to determine whether the gender of the prescriber and/or patient influences BZD prescription.

Methods

Cross-sectional study using data from the Florida Medicaid Managed Medical Assistance Program from January 1, 2018 to December 31, 2018. Eligible recipients ages 18 to 64, inclusive, enrolled in the Florida Medicaid plan for at least 1 day, and were dually eligible. Recipients either had a serious mental illness (SMI), or non-SMI and anxiety.

Results

Total 125 463 cases were identified (i.e., received BZD or non-BZD prescription). Main effect of patient and prescriber gender was significant F(1, 125 459) = 0.105, P = 0 .745, partial η2 < 0.001. Relative risk (RR) of male prescribers prescribing a BZD compared to female prescribers was 1.540, 95% confidence intervals (CI) [1.513, 1.567], whereas the RR of male patients being prescribed a BZD compared to female patients was 1.16, 95% CI [1.14, 1.18]. Main effects of patient and prescriber gender were statistically significant F(1, 125 459) = 188.232, P < 0.001, partial η2 = 0.001 and F(1, 125 459) = 349.704, P < 0.001, partial η2 = 0.013, respectively.

Conclusions

Male prescribers are more likely to prescribe BZDs, and male patients are more likely to receive BZDs. Further studies are required to characterize factors that influence this gender-by-gender interaction.

Keywords

Benzodiazepinebiasgenderpatientphysicianprescriber
Type
Original Research
Information
CNS Spectrums , Volume 27 , Issue 3 , June 2022 , pp. 378 - 382
Copyright
© The Author(s), 2021. Published by Cambridge University Press

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