A Cross‐Sectional Study of Prescribed Sleep Medication Use and Its Clinical and Demographic Factors Among Young People Receiving Mental Health Crisis Interventions in Sydney, Australia
Abstract
ABSTRACT Background Clinical and demographic factors influencing prescribed sleep medication use in children and young people (CYP) have been studied inadequately. We aimed to examine the prevalence of prescribed sleep medication use among CYP experiencing mental health crises and its associations with clinical and demographic factors. Materials and Methods Electronic medical records of CYP (n = 201) attending the Macarthur Safeguards Acute Mental Health Crisis Service (referred to as the Safeguards Service) in Sydney, Australia, were reviewed. Descriptive statistics and bivariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed. Multivariate logistic regression was used to estimate the Adjusted Odds Ratio (AOR) with 95% confidence intervals, examining the associations between prescribed sleep medication use and clinical and demographic factors. Results The prevalence of prescribed sleep medication use (e.g., melatonin, benzodiazepines) among CYP was 20.9%. Multivariate regression analysis indicated that CYP's length of stay with the Safeguards Service was positively associated with increased prescribed sleep medication use (AOR = 3.61, 95% CI: 1.19–10.94, p = 0.023). CYP who were diagnosed with trauma‐related psychiatric conditions tended to use more prescribed sleep medication use (AOR = 2.81, 95% CI: 1.09–7.19, p < 0.032). Moreover, multiple medication prescriptions (polypharmacy) were strongly associated with increased prescription of SM (AOR = 11.36, 95% CI:…
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