A research report submitted to the Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the
degree of Master of Family Medicine.
Johannesburg 2003 / Residents of a Retirement Village (Rosehaven), in both the frail and the non-frail
sections, were the subjects for this study. They were interviewed to determine
demographic characteristics and attitude towards sleep and sleep problems. Subjects
living in the frail care facility were compared to those living independently. In
addition, the chronic use of benzodiazepines, and the perceptions of both the subjects,
and the medical and nursing personnel caring for them, was studied. The physical and
mental status of subjects currently taking benzodiazepines was compared with those
who were not.
No significant differences in demographic features, was found between the frail and the
non-frail subjects. However, when subjects taking benzodiazepines were compared
with those who were not, several interesting differences were determined. Frail
subjects were more likely to be taking benzodiazepines. Sleep difficulties, and
perception of poor sleep quality was more likely in the benzodiazepine group. Subjects
taking benzodiazepines were more likely to be anxious, and to have suffered falls and
resulting injuries.
The daily functioning of subjects was rated using three well-validated scales:
Instrumental Activities of Daily Living, Mini Mental State Examination, and the
Geriatric Depression scale. Those subjects taking benzodiazepines scored significantly
worse on all of these scales, independent of frail status (i.e. within both frail and nonfrail
groups, subjects taking benzodiazepines scored significantly worse).
In spite of the above findings, subjects’ perception of benzodiazepines was positive,
and they believed them to be helpful. Nursing staff also perceived benzodiazepines to
be beneficial medications. Most of the general practitioners questioned had doubts as to
the safety of benzodiazepine use in elderly patients, however they were also generally
happy to continue to prescribe them. / IT2018
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:wits/oai:wiredspace.wits.ac.za:10539/24618 |
| Date | 26 August 2003 |
| Creators | Lambson, Meryl, Anne |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
| Format | application/pdf |
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