Alcohol consumption among French physicians: A cross-sectional study

Area of Science:

• Medical Research
• Public Health
• Physician Well-being

Background:

• Limited data exists on French physicians' alcohol behaviors, with most studies focusing on students or residents.
• This study addresses the gap by examining hazardous alcohol consumption prevalence among French physicians.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe and assess the prevalence of hazardous alcohol consumption in French physicians.
• To identify factors associated with hazardous alcohol consumption in this population.

Main Methods:

• A regional, cross-sectional online survey was conducted among Parisian general practitioners and hospital doctors in 2018.
• Hazardous alcohol consumption was defined using the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) score ≥ 8.

Main Results:

• The survey included 515 physicians; 12.6% exhibited hazardous alcohol consumption.
• Factors associated with hazardous alcohol consumption included illegal drug use (OR 4.62) and fixed-term contracts for hospital doctors (OR 2.69).
• A significant portion (41.5%) of physicians with hazardous consumption did not perceive it as risky, and 6.2% noted potential impacts on patient care.

Conclusions:

• The prevalence of hazardous alcohol consumption among French physicians is 12.6%.
• Physicians using illegal substances and hospital doctors on fixed-term contracts are more likely to engage in risky alcohol consumption.
• A national study is recommended to confirm these factors and evaluate preventive strategies for physician and patient health.