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Physicians' attitudes regarding reporting alcohol-impaired drivers.
Michael J Mello1, Ted D Nirenberg, David Lindquist
1Injury Prevention Center, Department of Emergency Medicine, Rhode Island Hospital and Miriam Hospital, Brown Medical School, Providence, Rhode Island 02903, USA. mjmello@lifespan.org
Substance Abuse
|October 24, 2003
Summary
Physicians are more comfortable reporting alcohol-impaired drivers to the DMV than police, citing patient confidentiality as a key barrier. Specialty differences were minimal, except emergency physicians screened less.
Area of Science:
- Medical Ethics
- Public Health
- Trauma Care
Background:
- Motor vehicle crashes (MVCs) are a significant public health concern, often involving alcohol-impaired drivers.
- Physicians treating MVC patients may encounter individuals driving under the influence of alcohol.
- Understanding physician attitudes towards reporting is crucial for public safety initiatives.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess physician attitudes regarding reporting alcohol-impaired drivers involved in MVCs.
- To examine comfort levels with reporting to police versus the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV).
- To identify barriers to reporting and explore attitudes toward alcoholism treatment across medical specialties.
Main Methods:
- Survey of physicians from specialties most likely to treat MVC patients.
- Evaluation of reporting comfort levels in three distinct case scenarios involving alcohol-impaired driving.
- Analysis of perceived barriers and attitudes toward alcoholism treatment.
Main Results:
- Physicians expressed greater comfort reporting to the DMV than to police across all case scenarios.
- Comfort levels for reporting to the DMV ranged from 63% to 81%, compared to 32% to 53% for police.
- No significant differences in reporting comfort were found across specialties, though emergency medicine physicians screened and referred less.
Conclusions:
- Physician willingness to report alcohol-impaired drivers is higher when reporting to the DMV compared to law enforcement.
- Physician-patient confidentiality and fear of civil litigation are primary deterrents to reporting.
- Targeted interventions may be needed to address barriers and encourage reporting to enhance road safety.