Assessment of family physicians' knowledge of social and community services

A survey of 255 family physicians and general practitioners in the Hamilton-Wentworth area, revealed that knowledge of social services and community treatment programs was often poor: 65% of 122 respondents did not know about one or more points of access to social services information, and 26% reported that they knew of appropriate social services for less than half of 13 psychosocial problems commonly encountered in family practice. Although 43% indicated that they preferred to treat patients themselves, 47% agreed that lack of information precluded referral, and 75% agreed that opportunities to increase their knowledge of community services would be helpful.