Hypnotic Prescribing
Identifying Attributes
Care Settings
Primary Care
Country
United Kingdom, Channel Islands and Isle of Man
Publishing Organisation
National Health Service (NHS): GP Practices
Type of Quality Indicator
Outcome
IOM Quality Dimension
Safety
Domain
Medications and Medication Management
Defining Attributes
Definition
Average daily quantity of Hypnotics prescribed per Specific Therapeutic group Age-sex Related Prescribing Unit (STAR PU)
Numerator
Total average daily quantity (ADQ) usage for benzodiazepines and "Z" drugs (zolpidem, zopiclone and zaleplon) in BNF 4.1.1.
Denominator
Total number of Hypnotics (BNF 4.1.1 sub-set) ADQ based STAR_PU (based on the latest quarter within the time period of the numerator).
Exclusions
Practices have been excluded from analysis if they have at least one quarter of missing data or if their numerator or denominator is below '10'.
Use of Risk Adjustment
Yes
Risk Adjustments
Age-sex adjusted
Stratifications
Collection and Reporting Attributes
Type of Data Collection
Standardised clinical data
Data Collection Methods
EPACT2, NHS Business Services Authority
Frequency of Data Collection
Frequency of Data Collection in Days
Reporting Methods
Reporting Frequency
Reporting Frequency in Days
Indicator Has Recommended Targets
No
Source and Reference Attributes
Evidence Source
Allen et al. Association between regulator inspection and ratings on primary care prescribing: an observational study in England 2014 to 2019
Technical Specifications
Link to Measurement Tools
Quality Indicator Confirmed to be Part of a Program Used to Monitor Quality and Safety of Care Among Older People at a Population-Level between 2012-2022
Yes
Assessed by the Australian Consortium for Aged Care Collaborators as Generally Containing Good Properties (Importance and Scientific Acceptability)
No
Australian Consortium for Aged Care Endorsed
No
Identified by PHARMA-Care Project
No
Upload Date
02 December 2025
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Date Modified 02 December 2025