Use of hypnotic and tranquillising drugs in general practice. Determinants, satisfaction and motivation to stop: the patients' view.

Objective: To know more about the characteristics of long-term users of hypnotic and tranquillising drugs in a primary health care area in The Netherlands.

Design: A questionnaire was applied to users of benzodiazepines and the computerised medical records were analysed.

Setting: Nine general practices affiliated to the Registration Network Family Practices (RNH) of the University of Maastricht (UM).