Physicians' norms and attitudes towards substance use in colleague physicians: A cross-sectional survey in the Netherlands.
INTRODUCTION:Substance use disorders (SUD) in physicians often remain concealed for a long time. Peer monitoring and open discussions with colleagues are essential for identifying SUD. However, physicians often feel uncomfortable discussing substance use with a colleague. We explored physicians'...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Public Library of Science (PLoS)
2020-01-01
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| Series: | PLoS ONE |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0231084 |
| _version_ | 1818833495228678144 |
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| author | Pauline Geuijen Marlies de Rond Joanneke Kuppens Femke Atsma Aart Schene Hein de Haan Cornelis de Jong Arnt Schellekens |
| author_facet | Pauline Geuijen Marlies de Rond Joanneke Kuppens Femke Atsma Aart Schene Hein de Haan Cornelis de Jong Arnt Schellekens |
| author_sort | Pauline Geuijen |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | INTRODUCTION:Substance use disorders (SUD) in physicians often remain concealed for a long time. Peer monitoring and open discussions with colleagues are essential for identifying SUD. However, physicians often feel uncomfortable discussing substance use with a colleague. We explored physicians' attitudes and norms about substance use (disorders) and their (intended) approach upon a presumption of substance use in a colleague. MATERIALS AND METHODS:An online cross-sectional survey concerning "Addiction in physicians" was administered by the Royal Dutch Medical Association physician panel. Overall, 1685 physicians (47%) responded. Data were analyzed by logistic regression to explore factors associated with taking action upon a substance use presumption. RESULTS:Most physicians agreed that SUD can happen to anyone (67%), is not a sign of weakness (78%) and that it is a disease that can be treated (83%). Substance use in a working context was perceived as unacceptable (alcohol at work: 99%, alcohol during a standby duty: 91%, alcohol in the eight hours before work: 77%, and illicit drugs in the eight hours before work: 97%). Almost all respondents (97%) intend to act upon a substance use presumption in a colleague. Of the 29% who ever had this presumption, 65% took actual action. Actual action was associated with male gender and older age (OR = 1.81; 95% CI = 1.20-2.74 and OR = 1.03; 95% CI = 1.01-1.05, respectively). CONCLUSIONS:About one-third of physicians reported experience with a presumption of substance use in a colleague. Whilst most physicians intend to take action upon such a presumption, two-thirds actually do act upon a presumption. To bridge this intention-behavior gap continued medical education on signs and symptoms of SUD and instructions on how to enter a supportive dialogue with a colleague about personal issues, may enhance physicians' knowledge, confidence, and ethical responsibility to act upon a presumption of substance use or other concerns in a colleague. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-19T02:19:50Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-c43526e45e1047f193208f2de816d484 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1932-6203 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-19T02:19:50Z |
| publishDate | 2020-01-01 |
| publisher | Public Library of Science (PLoS) |
| record_format | Article |
| series | PLoS ONE |
| spelling | doaj.art-c43526e45e1047f193208f2de816d4842022-12-21T20:40:15ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLoS ONE1932-62032020-01-01154e023108410.1371/journal.pone.0231084Physicians' norms and attitudes towards substance use in colleague physicians: A cross-sectional survey in the Netherlands.Pauline GeuijenMarlies de RondJoanneke KuppensFemke AtsmaAart ScheneHein de HaanCornelis de JongArnt SchellekensINTRODUCTION:Substance use disorders (SUD) in physicians often remain concealed for a long time. Peer monitoring and open discussions with colleagues are essential for identifying SUD. However, physicians often feel uncomfortable discussing substance use with a colleague. We explored physicians' attitudes and norms about substance use (disorders) and their (intended) approach upon a presumption of substance use in a colleague. MATERIALS AND METHODS:An online cross-sectional survey concerning "Addiction in physicians" was administered by the Royal Dutch Medical Association physician panel. Overall, 1685 physicians (47%) responded. Data were analyzed by logistic regression to explore factors associated with taking action upon a substance use presumption. RESULTS:Most physicians agreed that SUD can happen to anyone (67%), is not a sign of weakness (78%) and that it is a disease that can be treated (83%). Substance use in a working context was perceived as unacceptable (alcohol at work: 99%, alcohol during a standby duty: 91%, alcohol in the eight hours before work: 77%, and illicit drugs in the eight hours before work: 97%). Almost all respondents (97%) intend to act upon a substance use presumption in a colleague. Of the 29% who ever had this presumption, 65% took actual action. Actual action was associated with male gender and older age (OR = 1.81; 95% CI = 1.20-2.74 and OR = 1.03; 95% CI = 1.01-1.05, respectively). CONCLUSIONS:About one-third of physicians reported experience with a presumption of substance use in a colleague. Whilst most physicians intend to take action upon such a presumption, two-thirds actually do act upon a presumption. To bridge this intention-behavior gap continued medical education on signs and symptoms of SUD and instructions on how to enter a supportive dialogue with a colleague about personal issues, may enhance physicians' knowledge, confidence, and ethical responsibility to act upon a presumption of substance use or other concerns in a colleague.https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0231084 |
| spellingShingle | Pauline Geuijen Marlies de Rond Joanneke Kuppens Femke Atsma Aart Schene Hein de Haan Cornelis de Jong Arnt Schellekens Physicians' norms and attitudes towards substance use in colleague physicians: A cross-sectional survey in the Netherlands. PLoS ONE |
| title | Physicians' norms and attitudes towards substance use in colleague physicians: A cross-sectional survey in the Netherlands. |
| title_full | Physicians' norms and attitudes towards substance use in colleague physicians: A cross-sectional survey in the Netherlands. |
| title_fullStr | Physicians' norms and attitudes towards substance use in colleague physicians: A cross-sectional survey in the Netherlands. |
| title_full_unstemmed | Physicians' norms and attitudes towards substance use in colleague physicians: A cross-sectional survey in the Netherlands. |
| title_short | Physicians' norms and attitudes towards substance use in colleague physicians: A cross-sectional survey in the Netherlands. |
| title_sort | physicians norms and attitudes towards substance use in colleague physicians a cross sectional survey in the netherlands |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0231084 |
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