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[Consumption of "performance-enhancing" products by general practitioners]
Patrick Laure1, Caroline Binsinger
1Laboratoire de Psychologie Appliquée Stress et Société, Université de Reims, Reims, France. patrick.laure@wanadoo.fr
Therapie
|December 20, 2003
Summary
Many doctors use products to cope with professional stress and fatigue, with significant numbers consuming tobacco and experimenting with cannabis. This raises concerns about prescription practices and addiction prevention strategies for medical professionals.
Area of Science:
- Medical Sociology
- Occupational Health
- Pharmacovigilance
Context:
- Physician well-being is crucial for patient care.
- Substance use among healthcare professionals presents unique challenges.
- The demanding nature of medical practice may influence substance consumption.
Purpose:
- To investigate the prevalence of product use among general practitioners in France.
- To explore the types of products used for stress, fatigue, and academic "holding out".
- To examine the potential link between physician substance use and prescribing habits.
Summary:
- A telephone survey of 402 French general practitioners revealed significant product consumption.
- 19% used products for stress (11% benzodiazepines), 24% for fatigue, 33% tobacco, and 20% cannabis.
- 44% used products to endure studies, with a correlation to current stress-related product use.
Impact:
- Highlights the need to address physician addiction and its potential impact on patient safety.
- Raises critical questions regarding the influence of physician substance use on prescription patterns.
- Underscores the necessity for robust prevention and support programs for doctors facing addiction.