Doping awareness, views, and experience: a comparison between general practitioners and pharmacists

Information about doping awareness among medical professionals is scarce. We evaluated the attitudes, level of knowledge and experience among general practitioners (GPs) and pharmacists (Ps) with regard to doping.

In a cross-sectional national survey a 59-item self-administered questionnaire was sent to a representative random sample of 645 GPs and 330 Ps.

Overall, 204/975 (133 GPs, 71 Ps) questionnaires were returned and available for analysis. Fewer than half (39% GPs vs. 48% Ps, P = 0.702) of respondents were familiar with the formal definition of doping. The abbreviation WADA was correctly interpreted by 42% (33% vs. 59%, P = 0.003), and 65% knew that the European Commission has the legislation to fight against doping. More GPs (69% vs. 31%, P = 0.005) agreed to have a role to play in doping prevention, similar proportions considering themselves to have sufficient knowledge of prevention initiatives (65% vs. 35%, P = 0.369). Overall, 12% of respondents (8.7% GPs, 19.3% Ps) reported being directly confronted with a request for prescription of doping agents in the previous 12 months (mainly stimulants, anabolic agents, hormones, corticosteroids).

GPs and Ps are frequently exposed to questions about and requests for doping agents. They have acceptable level of general knowledge but are in need for more specific information on prohibited substances and legislature.